U.S. Government Agency Executive Branch Research Paper

U.S. Government Agency Executive Branch - Research Paper Example The focus on the collection of foreign intelligence has been crucial to the ability of the United States to stay ahead. The secret nature of the agency does not allow it to showcase success. Nevertheless, the Central Intelligence Agency is an important branch of the US Government. The nation heavily relies on the agency to keep United States ahead of its enemies. The CIA is the only agency that is allowed by the law to carry out cover actions unless the President directs otherwise. Sources claim that the CIA commands one of the largest budgets in the intelligence community. The CIA was formed when President Truman signed the National Security Act 1947 into law. The need for an agency had been identified since World War II. The cold war made it necessary for the government to implement a unit that would deal with the collection, analysis, and evaluation of foreign intelligence. The National Security Act 1947 gave the CIA the power to coordinate, correlate, evaluate and disseminate all the activities and information related to intelligence1. Any intelligence that has an impact on national security should be analyzed and evaluated by the Central Intelligence Agency. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act brought changes in the intelligence community. The act removed the position of the Director of Central Intelligence and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. It created a new position of the Director of Central Intelligence Agency and the Direction of National Intelligence. The Act became law in 2004 by President George W. Bush. The CIA mission statement reads, â€Å"Preempt threats and further US national security objectives by collecting intelligence that matters, producing objective all-source analysis, conducting effective covert action as directed by the President, and safeguarding the secrets that help keep our Nation safe.†2 The agency has a vision to provide a tactical and