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Employment FAQs
World
Factbook FAQs
We Are Often Asked . . .
What
does the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) do?
Who
works for the Central Intelligence Agency?
How
many people work for the Central Intelligence Agency and what is its
budget?
Does
the Central Intelligence Agency give public tours of its headquarters
buildings?
Does
the Central Intelligence Agency release publications to the public?
Does
the CIA spy on Americans? Does it keep a file on you?
Who
decides when CIA should participate in covert actions, and why?
What
is the Central Intelligence Agency's role in combating international
terrorism?
The
CIA has been accused of conducting assassinations and engaging in
drug trafficking. What are the facts?
Who oversees the CIA? Does it act on its own initiative?
Where
is the Central Intelligence Agency's headquarters? Is it in Langley
or McLean, Virginia?
How
do I cite a document on CIA’s web site as a source in my research
paper/school report/term paper?
My
son has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and I understand the CIA will
send him a letter of congratulations upon request?
What does
the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) do?
The Central Intelligence
Agency's primary mission is to collect, evaluate, and disseminate
foreign intelligence to assist the President and senior US Government
policymakers in making decisions relating to the national security.
The Central Intelligence Agency does not make policy; it is an independent
source of foreign intelligence information for those who do. The Central
Intelligence Agency may also engage in covert action at the President's
direction in accordance with applicable law. [Return
to top]
Who works
for the Central Intelligence Agency?
The CIA carefully
selects well-qualified people in nearly all fields of study. Scientists,
engineers, economists, linguists, mathematicians, secretaries, accountants
and computer specialists are but a few of the professionals continually
in demand. Much of the Agency’s work, like that done in academic institutions,
requires research, careful evaluation, and writing of reports that
end up on the desks of this nation’s policymakers. Applicants are
expected to have a college degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must
be willing to relocate to the Washington, D.C., area. Selection for
Agency employment is highly competitive and employees must successfully
complete a polygraph and medical examination and a background investigation
before entering on duty. The Agency endorses equal employment opportunity
for all employees. For further information, see the employment
page. [Return to top]
How many
people work for the Central Intelligence Agency and what is its budget?
Neither the number
of employees nor the size of the Agency's budget can, at present,
be publicly disclosed. A common misconception is that the Agency has
an unlimited budget, which is far from true. While classified, the
budget and size of the CIA are known in detail and scrutinized by
the Office of Management and Budget and by the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
and the Defense Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees in
both houses of Congress. The resources allocated to the CIA are subject to
the same rigorous examination and approval process that applies to
all other government organizations.
In 1997, the
aggregate figure for all U.S. government intelligence and intelligence-related
activities—of which the CIA is but one part--was made public for the
first time. The aggregate intelligence budget was $26.6 billion in
fiscal year 1997
and $26.7 billion for fiscal year 1998. The
intelligence budget for fiscal year 1999 has not been publicly released.
[Return to top]
Does the
Central Intelligence Agency give public tours of its headquarters buildings?
No. Logistical
problems and security considerations prevent such tours. The CIA provides
an extremely limited number of visits annually for approved academic
and civic groups. A brief virtual
tour is available on this Web site. [Return to
top]
Does the
Central Intelligence Agency release publications to the public?
Yes. The
CIA releases millions of pages of documents each year.
Much of this is material of historical significance or personal interest
that has been declassified under Executive Order 12958 (a presidential
order outlining a uniform system for handling national security information)
or the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (statutes which
give U.S. citizens access to U.S. Government information or U.S. Government
information about themselves, respectively). The Agency handles
thousands of cases each year and maintains the CIA’s
FOIA Electronic Reading Room at www.foia.cia.gov to release this
information to the public and to provide guidance for requesting information.
Some released information of significant public interest or historical
value is also available at the National
Archives and Records Administration. Specific copies of
any previously declassified records are available directly from the
CIA FOIA office.
The Agency frequently
releases items of more general public interest on this Web site.
The site includes general information about
the CIA, unclassified current publications,
speeches and congressional
testimony, press
releases and statements, employment
information, and basic references, including the CIA World
Factbook. Many documents, including the CIA World
Factbook, reports on foreign economic or political matters, maps,
and directories of foreign officials are also available in hard copy;
these are listed in CIA
Maps and Publications Released to the Public which is also posted
available from the Office of Public Affairs. Publications on this
list may be purchased
from the Government Printing Office,
the National Technical Information Service,
and the Library of Congress.
Most CIA publications are classified, however, and are not publicly
available.
For more information,
contact the Chief, Information Review Group, Office of Information
Management, CIA, Washington, D.C. 20505 at (703) 613-1289 or
the Office of Public Affairs at (703) 482-0623. [Return
to top]
Does the
CIA spy on Americans? Does it keep a file on you?
By law, the CIA
is specifically prohibited from collecting foreign intelligence concerning
the domestic activities of US citizens. Its mission is to collect
information related to foreign intelligence and foreign counterintelligence.
By direction of the President in Executive
Order 12333 of 1981 and in accordance with procedures issued by
the Director of Central Intelligence and approved by the Attorney
General, the CIA is restricted in the collection of intelligence information
directed against US citizens. Collection is allowed only for an authorized
intelligence purpose; for example, if there is a reason to believe
that an individual is involved in espionage or international terrorist
activities. The CIA's procedures require senior approval for any such
collection that is allowed, and, depending on the collection technique
employed, the sanction of the Attorney General and Director of Central
Intelligence may be required. These restrictions on the CIA have been
in effect since the 1970s. [Return to top]
Who decides
when CIA should participate in covert actions, and why?
Only the President
can direct the CIA to undertake a covert action. Such actions usually
are recommended by the National
Security Council (NSC). Covert actions are considered when the
NSC judges that US foreign policy objectives may not be fully realized
by normal diplomatic means and when military action is deemed to be
too extreme an option. Therefore, the Agency may be directed to conduct
a special activity abroad in support of foreign policy where the role
of the US Government is neither apparent nor publicly acknowledged.
Once tasked, the Director of Central Intelligence must notify the
intelligence oversight committees of the Congress.
[Return to top]
What is
the Central Intelligence Agency's role in combating international terrorism?
The Central
Intelligence Agency supports the overall US Government effort to combat
international terrorism by collecting, analyzing, and disseminating
intelligence on foreign terrorist groups and individuals. The CIA also
works with friendly foreign governments and shares pertinent information
with them. [Return to top]
The
CIA has been accused of conducting assassinations and engaging in drug
trafficking. What are the facts?
The CIA does
neither. Executive Order
12333 of 1981 explicitly prohibits the Central Intelligence Agency
from engaging, either directly or indirectly, in assassinations.
Internal safeguards and the congressional oversight process assure
compliance.
Regarding recent
allegations of CIA involvement in drug trafficking, the CIA Inspector
General* found no evidence to substantiate the charges that the CIA
or its employees conspired with or assisted Contra-related organizations
or individuals in drug trafficking to raise funds for the Contras
or for any other purpose. In fact, the CIA plays a crucial
role in combating drug trafficking by providing intelligence information
to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
and the State Department.
* See:
Overview of Report
of Investigation Concerning Allegations of Connections Between CIA
and The Contras in Cocaine Trafficking to the United States
Report
of Investigation—Volume I: The California Story
Report
of Investigation—Volume II: The Contra Story
[Return
to top]
Who oversees
the CIA? Does it act on its own initiative?
Both the Congress
and the Executive Branch oversee the Central Intelligence Agency’s
activities. In addition, the CIA is responsible to the American people
through their elected representatives, and, like other government
agencies, acts in accordance with US laws and executive orders.
In the Executive Branch, the National Security Council—including the
President, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary
of Defense—provides guidance and direction for national foreign intelligence
and counterintelligence activities. In Congress, the Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee
on Intelligence, as well as other committees, closely monitor the
Agency’s reporting and programs. The CIA is not a policy-making
organization; it advises policymakers on matters of foreign intelligence,
and it conducts covert actions only at the direction of the President
[Return to top]
Where
is the Central Intelligence Agency's headquarters? Is it in Langley
or McLean, Virginia?
Technically,
you could say CIA headquarters is in both. "Langley" is the name of
the McLean neighborhood in which the CIA resides.
The town of McLean
was founded in 1910, but before then, the area where CIA Headquarters
is located was known as Langley.
In 1719, Thomas
Lee purchased a tract of land from the sixth Lord Fairfax (for whom
Fairfax County, the county in which McLean is located, was named),
and he named it "Langley" after his ancestral home in England. Though
Lee never lived on the land, the Langley area soon became home to
many European settlers. A few were wealthy people whom England had
granted land, and they established large plantations in the area.
During the War
of 1812, President James Madison and his wife Dolley fled the British
siege of Washington to the safety of family and friends in Langley.
Langley was a Union stronghold in Virginia, a southern state, during
the Civil War and had two forts, Camp Griffin and Camp Pierpont, which
housed soldiers who helped protect Washington.
With the building
of the Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad, 1903 was a defining year
for Langley. John McLean, president of Washington Gas Light Company
and, later, editor of the Washington Post, and Senator Stephen B.
Elkins of West Virginia collaborated on construction of a railroad
which would bring vacationing Washingtonians to nearby Great Falls
and provide people who worked in Washington the choice of living outside
of the city. In 1906, the railroad began operating, and the population
of Langley and nearby Lewinsville quickly grew. In 1910, the post
offices of these towns closed and, named for the man who helped the
area grow, a new post office named "McLean" was opened. In 1959, the
Federal government broke ground for the Central Intelligence Agency
headquarters. Construction was completed in 1961, adding another chapter
to McLean's long history.
Despite the name
change in 1910, the name "Langley" still lingers to describe the McLean
neighborhood where the CIA is located.
Source:
Ellis, Rafaela "A Community Called McLean" [Return
to top]
How do
I cite a document on CIA’s web site as a source in my research
paper/school report/term paper?
There are many
different styles for citing sources in a school paper. Various academic
communities prefer one style to another, so consult with your instructor
to find out which one is preferred.
One of the most
popular styles is the following:
Central Intelligence
Agency.
The World Factbook.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
(date accessed)1
Heur, Richards
J. Jr.
1999
Psychology of Intelligence Analysis
http://www.cia.gov/csi/books/19104/index.html
(date accessed)1
1
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and
Dissertations (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing and Publishing).
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
[Return
to top]
My
son has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and I understand the CIA will
send him a letter of congratulations upon request?
We regret we
are unable to process and provide certificates of congratulations
to the fine young Americans who have become Eagle Scouts. We have
curtailed some activities in order for us to concentrate on the War
on Terrorism.
Please be assured
we will resume the practice when we are able to do so.
[Return
to top]
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