Major Independent Agencies

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

There are several administrative divisions of the government whose job it is to enforce and administer laws and regulations. Because provisions for these agencies were not outlined in the Constitution, they are considered independent extensions of the U.S. government. Here is a list of some of the major agencies.

  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

    Office of Public Affairs (20505)

    Established: 1947

    Director of Central Intelligence: John Brennan

    The CIA conducts counterintelligence activities and other functions related to foreign intelligence and national security, as directed by the President and National Security Council. The Director reports to the Director of National Intelligence.

    www.cia.gov
  • U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

    624 9th St., NW (20425)

    Established: 1957

    Chair: Martin R. Castro

    The commission investigates complaints of discrimination and denial of equal protection of laws, evaluates Federal laws concerning discrimination and denial of equal protection, and issues public service messages that discourage discrimination.

    www.usccr.gov
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission

    4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Md. 20814

    Established: Oct. 27, 1972

    Chair: Inez Tenenbaum

    The CPSC aims to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths from consumer products by developing and enforcing safety standards, recalling defective products, and researching potentially hazardous products.

    www.cpsc.gov
  • Corporation for National and Community Service

    1201 New York Ave., NW (20525)

    Established: Sept. 1993

    CEO: Wendy Spencer

    www.cns.gov
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (20460)

    Established: Dec. 2, 1970

    Administrator: Gina McCarthy

    The EPA mission is to protect human health and the natural environment—air, water, and land—by making and enforcing environmental laws.

    www.epa.gov
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

    1801 L. St., NW (20507)4

    Members: 5

    Established: July 2, 1965

    Chair: Jacqueline A. Berrien

    The EEOC promotes equal opportunity in employment by enforcing federal civil-rights laws and through education and technical assistance.

    www.eeoc.gov
  • Farm Credit Administration (FCA)

    1501 Farm Credit Dr., McLean, Va. 22102-5090

    Members: 13

    Established: March 27, 1933

    Chair: Jill Long Thompson

    www.fca.gov
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

    445 12th Street, SW (20554)

    Established: 1934

    Chair: Mignon Clyburn

    www.fcc.gov
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

    550 17th St., NW (20429-9990)

    Established: June 16, 1933

    Chair: Martin J. Gruenberg

    The FDIC insures banks deposits so that people's money is protected if a bank fails. The FDIC also supervises 6,000 banks and financial institutions and manages bank failures to minimize complications.

    www.fdic.gov
  • Federal Election Commission (FEC)

    999 E St., NW (20463)

    Members: 6

    Established: 1975

    Chair: Ellen L. Weintraub

    The FEC was created to uphold the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), which regulates the financing of federal elections.

    www.fec.gov
  • Federal Maritime Commission

    800 North Capitol St., NW (20573-0001)

    Members: 5

    Established: Aug. 12, 1961

    Chair: Mario Cordero

    www.fmc.gov
  • Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)

    2100 K St., NW (20427)

    Established: 1947

    Director: George H. Cohen

    www.fmcs.gov
  • Federal Reserve System (FRS), Board of Governors of

    20th St. & Constitution Ave., NW (20551)

    Members: 7

    Established: Dec. 23, 1913

    Chair: Ben Bernanke

    The Federal Reserve System, which includes 12 regional Federal reserve banks that are supervised by a Federal Reserve Board, is the central bank of the United States. Its original mission was to ensure the country's financial system remained stable. Its role has expanded and now includes regulating credit conditions and loan rates, regulating banks, and advising the government on the country's payments system.

    www.federalreserve.gov
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

    600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (20580)

    Members: 5

    Established: Sept. 26, 1914

    Chair: Edith Ramirez

    The FTC enforces several federal antitrust and consumer-protection laws. The Commission makes sure the nation's businesses are competitive, healthy, free of unfair restrictions, and are fair to consumers.

    www.ftc.gov
  • General Services Administration (GSA)

    1800 F St., NW (20405)

    Established: July 1, 1949

    Administrator: Daniel M. Tangherlini

    The mission of GSA is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to government and the American people.

    www.gsa.gov
  • U.S. International Trade Commission

    500 E St., SW (20436)

    Members: 6

    Established: Sept. 8, 1916

    Chair: Irving Williamson

    The Commission serves the public by implementing U.S. law and contributing to the development of sound and informed U.S. trade policy.

    www.usitc.gov
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Public Communications and Inquiries Management Office, NASA Headquarters, Suite 1M32 (20546-0001)

    Established: 1958

    Administrator: Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

    NASA conducts research and develops programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites, and rocketry. NASA's best known projects are the Space Shuttle, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Galileo mission to Jupiter, and the agency's aeronautics research.

    www.nasa.gov

  • National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

    8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Md. 20740-6001

    Established: Oct. 19, 1984. NARA is the successor agency to the National Archives Establishment, which was created in 1934 and later incorporated into the General Services Administration as the National Archives and Records Service in 1949.

    Archivist of the U.S.: David S. Ferriero

    www.nara.gov
  • National Endowment for the Arts

    1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (20506)

    Established: 1965

    Chair: Joan Shigekawa

    The foundation supports the arts by funding museums, artists, and arts-related programs for schools and communities.

    www.arts.gov
  • National Endowment for the Humanities

    1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (20506)

    Established: 1965

    Chair: Carole Watson

    The foundation supports the arts by funding museums, artists, and arts-related programs for schools and communities.

    www.neh.gov
  • Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Office of

    Washington, DC (20511)

    Established: Dec. 2004

    Director: James R. Clapper

    The position of Director of National Intelligence was created by Congress in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001. The National Intelligence Reform Act was passed by Congress in Dec. 2004, formally establishing the post. The director oversees the Central Intelligence Agency and 14 smaller intelligence agencies and will determine what information reaches the president. It is a cabinet-level position.

    www.dni.gov
  • National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

    1099 14th St., NW (20570-0001)

    Members: 5

    Established: July 5, 1935

    Chair: Mark Gaston Pearce

    The NLRB enforces the National Labor Relations Act, which is the law that oversees relations between unions and employers in the private sector. It holds elections to determine if employees want to unionize and investigates and fixes unfair labor practices by employers and unions.

    www.nlrb.gov
  • National Mediation Board

    1301 K St., NW, Suite 250 East (20005-7011)

    Established: June 21, 1934

    Chair: Linda Puchala

    www.nmb.gov
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)

    4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22230

    Established: 1950

    Director: Dr. Cora Marrett

    The NSF promotes science and engineering through research and education programs.

    www.nsf.gov
  • National Transportation Safety Board

    490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW (20594)

    Members: 5

    Established: April 1, 1967, as an independent agency supported by the Dept. of Transportation. Ties with Dept. of Transportation officially ended in 1975.

    Chair: Deborah Hersman

    The NTSB investigates every civil aviation accident in the United States, as well as railroad, highway, and marine accidents. The board also makes safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

    www.ntsb.gov
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

    Washington, DC 20555

    Members: 5

    Established: Jan. 19, 1975

    Chair: Allison M. Macfarlane

    The NRC licenses and regulates the nonmilitary use of nuclear energy to protect the public and the environment.

    www.nrc.gov
  • Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

    1900 E St., NW (20415)

    Established: Jan. 1, 1979

    Director: Elaine Kaplan

    OPM works in several broad categories to recruit, retain and honor a world-class workforce for the American people.

    www.opm.gov
  • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

    100 F St., NE (20549)

    Members: 5

    Established: July 2, 1934

    Chair: Mary Jo White

    The SEC administers federal securities laws. These laws protect investors in securities markets and ensure that investors have access to information about publicly traded securities. The Commission also regulates firms engaged in the purchase or sale of securities, people who provide investment advice, and investment companies.

    www.sec.gov
  • Selective Service System (SSS)

    National Headquarters, Arlington, Va., 22209-2425

    Established: Sept. 16, 1940

    Director: Lawrence G. Romo

    The statutory missions of Selective Service are to be prepared to provide trained and untrained personnel to the DoD in the event of a national emergency and to be prepared to implement an Alternative Service Program for registrants classified as conscientious objectors.

    www.sss.gov
  • Small Business Administration (SBA)

    409 3rd St., SW (20416)

    Established: July 30, 1953

    Administrator: Jeanne A. Hulit

    The SBA provides financial, technical, and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses.

    www.sba.gov
  • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

    400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tenn. 37902-1499

    Members of Board of Directors: 9

    Established: May 18, 1933

    Chairman: Bill Johnson

    TVA has renewed its vision to help lead the Tennessee Valley region and the nation toward a cleaner and more secure energy future, relying more on nuclear power and energy efficiency and relying less on coal.

    www.tva.com
  • U.S. Postal Service

    475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW (20260-0010)

    Established: In 1775 with the appointment of Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general under the Continental Congress. In 1970 became independent agency headed by 11-member board of governors.

    Postmaster General: Patrick R. Donahoe

    www.usps.com
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