LibGuides: Government Documents: United States (2024)

A to Z Index of U.S. Government Agencies.

Updated by the Federal Register, includes list of all 438 agencies and sub-agencies.

Official U.S. Executive Branch Agencies

VP, Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, HHS, Homeland Security, HUD, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs & Attorney General.

The national library is the oldest federal cultural institution in the U.S. and the largest library in the world by collection size.

NARA is charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records. NARA also transmits votes of the Electoral College to Congress.

The DOL is a cabinet-level department responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits. U.S. states also have such departments. Headed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

The DoED is a cabinet-level department of the U.S. government residing over education, administered by the Secretary of Education. It is by far the smallest Cabinet-level department, with about 5,000 employees.

The CDC is the leading national public health institute of the United States. Its main goal is to protect public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability.

NASA is the agency responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA science is focused on better understanding Earth, advancing heliophysics, and exploring bodies throughout the Solar System.

The DOT is a federal cabinet department concerned with transportation. Its mission is to serve the U.S. by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible, and convenient transportation system.

The ATF is a federal law enforcement organization within the Department of Justice. It investigates federal offenses involving the unlawful use, manufacture, and possession of firearms and explosives; acts of arson, bombings; and illegal trafficking.

The State Department is the federal executive department responsible for the international relations of the United States. The Department is governed by the Secretary of State, nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

The DOJ is a federal executive department of the U.S. government, responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice in the United States. Headed by the United States Attorney General.

The DOD is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the United States Armed Forces.

The DHS is a cabinet department created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the U.S. from terrorist attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters.

The CIA is a civilian foreign intelligence service tasked with gathering and analyzing national security information. The CIA reports to the Director of National Intelligence and provides intelligence for the President and his Cabinet.

The FBI is the domestic intelligence and security service serving as the prime federal law enforcement organization. The FBI reports to both the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence.

The USDA is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal policy on farming, agriculture, forestry, and food.

The DOE is a cabinet-level department concerned with energy policy. Its responsibilities include the nation's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production, energy conservation, energy research, waste disposal.

The DOC is the cabinet department concerned with promoting economic growth. Charged with gathering economic and demographic data for business and government decision-making, and helping to set industrial standards.

The HHS is a cabinet-level department of the U.S. federal government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.

The DOT is an executive department and the treasury of the federal government. DOT prints all paper currency and coins, collects federal taxes through the IRS, and manages debt instruments.

The DOI is the federal executive dept responsible for managing and conserving federal land and natural resources. Manages 75% of all federal land.

The VA is a government-run military veteran benefit system with cabinet-level status. It runs VA medical facilities, clinics, and benefits offices and is responsible for administering benefits programs for veterans, their families and survivors.

The HUD is a cabinet department in the executive branch, responsible for housing and community development. HUD works to strengthen the housing market, protect consumers and utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life.

Independent agency created by Congressional statute to regulate interstate communications by radio, television, satellite, and cable in the U.S. The FCC oversees broadband, competition, the media, public safety and homeland security.

The EPA is the U.S. agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment through regulation. The agency conducts environmental assessment, pollution prevention and energy conservation programs.

The FTC is an independent agency of the U.S. government whose principal mission is the promotion of consumer protection and the elimination and prevention of anticompetitive business practices, such as coercive monopoly.

The FDA is a federal agency of the DHHS, responsible for regulating and supervising food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, drugs, vaccines, medical devices, cosmetics, animal food and veterinary products.