## Overview The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is the principal civilian foreign intelligence service of the United States federal government, specializing in collecting, analyzing, and providing intelligence on global affairs to inform national security decisions[2][5]. Headquartered at the George Bush Center for Intelligence in Langley, Virginia, the CIA is a key member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and reports to the Director of National Intelligence[5]. Its mission is to protect the nation and advance its security interests by delivering objective intelligence to the president, the National Security Council, and other policymakers—without making policy recommendations itself[2][5]. ## History and Evolution Established in 1947 by the National Security Act, the CIA was born out of the need for centralized intelligence after World War II. Over the decades, its focus has shifted: from Cold War espionage and counterintelligence, to a post-9/11 emphasis on counterterrorism, and more recently, to countering state actors like Russia and China[4]. The agency has undergone several transformations, adapting to new threats and technologies, and has been involved in covert operations, paramilitary activities, and support for foreign governments[5]. ## Key Achievements The CIA has played pivotal roles in shaping global events, from Cold War-era regime changes and intelligence-sharing with allies, to disrupting terrorist networks and uncovering foreign interference in U.S. elections[4][5]. It is responsible for coordinating human intelligence (HUMINT) across the Intelligence Community and has helped establish intelligence services in many countries[5]. The agency also produces the CIA World Factbook, a comprehensive public resource on country data and statistics used by governments, businesses, and journalists worldwide[1][7]. ## Current Status and Structure As of 2025, the CIA operates through multidisciplinary mission centers, integrating analysis, operations, technical, and digital capabilities across five directorates[2]. It does not have a law enforcement function but collaborates with other agencies on counter