Legislative definitions of an agency of the federal government of the United States are varied, and even contradictory. The official United States Government Manual offers no definition. While the Administrative Procedure Act definition of "agency" applies to most executive branch agencies, Congress may define an agency however it chooses in enabling legislation, and through subsequent litigation often involving the Freedom of Information Act and the Government in the Sunshine Act. These further cloud attempts to enumerate a list of agencies. The executive branch of the federal government includes the Executive Office of the President and the United States federal executive departments (whose secretaries belong to the Cabinet). Employees of the majority of these agencies are considered civil servants. The majority of the independent agencies of the United States government are also classified as executive agencies (they are independent in that they are not subordinated under a Cabinet position). There are a small number of independent agencies that are not considered part of the executive branch, such as the Congressional Research Service and the United States Sentencing Commission, which are legislative and judicial agencies, respectively.

United States Congress

The U.S. Congress is the bicameral legislature of the United States government, and is made up of two chambers: the United States Senate (the upper chamber) and the United States House of Representatives (the lower chamber). Together, the two chambers exercise authority over the following legislative agencies: • Congressional Budget Office (CBO) • Government Accountability Office (GAO) • Government Publishing Office (USGPO) • Office of Congressional Accessibility Services (OCAS) • Office of the Attending Physician (OAP) • Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) • Capitol Police Board, which governs the United States Capitol Police (USCP) • Architect of the Capitol (AOC), which is in charge of maintaining the United States Capitol Complex, including the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) and the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) The legislature also oversees the Library of Congress (LOC), a national library dedicated to national records, which administers various programs, agencies, and services including:

Federal judiciary of the United States

The federal judiciary consists of courts established under Article Three of the United States Constitution. These are the The United States bankruptcy courts, while not established as Article III courts, are legally designated as "units of the district courts." The judicial branch includes the following agencies:

Executive Office of the President

The President of the United States is the chief executive of the federal government. He is in charge of executing federal laws and approving, or vetoing, new legislation passed by Congress. The President resides in the Executive Residence (EXR) maintained by the Office of Administration (OA). To effectively run the country's affairs, the President also maintains councils regarding various issues, including:

White House Office

• Office of the Chief of Staff • Office of the National Security Advisor • Domestic Policy Council • National Economic Council • Office of Cabinet Affairs • Office of Communications • Office of Digital Strategy • Office of the First Lady • Office of Intergovernmental Affairs • Office of Legislative Affairs • Office of Management and Administration • Office of Political Affairs • Office of the Staff Secretary • Office of Records Management • Office of Presidential Advance • Presidential Personnel Office • Office of Public Engagement • Office of the Social Secretary • White House Press Office • Office of White House Counsel • Oval Office Operations • White House Military Office • President's Commission on White House Fellowships

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Office of the Secretary of Agriculture

• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration • Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) • Departmental Administration (DA) • * Office of Customer Experience • * Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) • * Office of Homeland Security (OHS) • * Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) • * Office of Operations (OO) • * Office of Property and Environmental Management (OPEM) • * Office of Safety, Security and Protection (OSSP) • * Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) • Agriculture Buildings and Facilities (AgBF) • Hazardous Materials Management (HMM) • Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA) • Office of Communications (OC) • Office of Ethics (OE) • Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) • * National Appeals Division (NAD) • * Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) • * Office of the Judicial Officer (OJO) • Office of Inspector General (OIG) • Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) • * Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP) • Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) • * World Agricultural Outlook Board • Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OFCO) • * National Finance Center (NFC) • Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) • Office of the Executive Secretariat (OES) • Office of the General Counsel (OGC) • * Office of Information Affairs

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC)

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS)

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP)

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics (REE)

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development (RD)

Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA)

United States Department of Commerce

Office of the Secretary (OS)

Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security/Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)

Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs (OUS/EA)

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property/United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade/International Trade Administration (ITA)

Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology

United States Department of Defense (DOD)

Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)

• The Secretary of Defense • The Deputy Secretary of Defense • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Defense • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security • Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Defense • Office of the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation • Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation • Office of the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense • Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs • Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict • Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs • Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency • Office of the Director of Administration and Management • Office of Net Assessment

Defense agencies

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) • Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) • Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) • Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) • Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) • Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) • Defense Health Agency (DHA) • Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) • Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) • Defense Legal Services Agency (DLSA) • Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) • Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPMAA) • Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) • Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) • Missile Defense Agency (MDA) • Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA)

National intelligence agencies

• Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) • National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) • National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) • National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS)

Defense field activities

• Defense Media Activity (DMA) • Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) • Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) • Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) • Department of Defense Human Resources Activity (DoDHRA) • Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (DODTRMC) • Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) • Washington Headquarters Services (WHS)

Universities and research institutes

• Defense Acquisition University (DAU) • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences • Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute • National Defense University (NDU) • National War College (NWC) • Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC) • National Intelligence University • Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy • College of International Security Affairs (CISA) • College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC) • Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS)

Unified combatant commands

Joint agencies

• Joint Chiefs of Staff • National Guard Bureau • Joint Personnel Recovery Agency • Office of Military Commissions • * Court of Military Commission Review • Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals • Army and Air Force Exchange Service • White House Military Office • United States Military Entrance Processing Command • Defense Microelectronics Activity

Department of the Army

Office of the Secretary of the Army

• Office of the Under Secretary of the Army • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs • Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army • Office of the General Counsel of the Army • Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army • Chief of Staff of the United States Army

U.S. Army Commands

• United States Army Forces Command • United States Army Futures Command • United States Army Materiel Command • United States Army Training and Doctrine Command • United States Army Reserve Command • Army National Guard

U.S. Army Direct Reporting Units

• Arlington National Cemetery/U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery • U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center • Civilian Human Resources Agency • United States Army Corps of Engineers • United States Army Criminal Investigation Division • United States Army Human Resources Command • * Military Postal Service Agency • * Physical Disability Agency • United States Army Intelligence and Security Command • United States Army Medical Command • United States Army Military District of Washington • United States Army Test and Evaluation Command • United States Army War College • United States Military Academy

U.S. Army Field Operating Agencies

• Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency • Civilian Training Student Education Detachment • Army Public Affairs Center • United States Army Force Management Support Agency • United States Army Audit Agency • United States Army Combat Readiness Center • Army Corrections Command • Equity and Inclusion Agency • United States Army Headquarters Services • United States Army Inspector General Agency • The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School • United States Army Legal Services Agency • United States Army Command and Control Support Agency • United States Army Logistics Enterprise Support Agency • United States Army Manpower Analysis Agency • Army Enterprise Marketing Office • Center for Army Analysis • United States Army Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Agency • United States Army Field Band • Army Review Boards Agency • United States Army Aeronautical Services Agency • United States Army Analytics Group • United States Army Enterprise Cloud Management Agency

Department of the Navy

Office of the Secretary of the Navy

• Office of the Under Secretary of the Navy • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment • Office of the General Counsel of the Navy • Office of the Naval Inspector General • Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

U.S. Navy Functional Operating Forces

• United States Naval Special Warfare Command • Operational Test and Evaluation Force • Navy Reserve Force

Shore Establishment and Activities, Echelon II

• Board for Correction of Naval Records • Bureau of Medicine and Surgery • Bureau of Naval Personnel • Naval Air Systems Command • Naval Sea Systems Command • Naval District Washington • Naval Facilities Engineering Command • Naval Supply Systems Command • Department of the Navy, Directorate for Administration, Logistics and Operations

U.S. Navy Field Support Activities

• Drug Education for Youth • Navy Enterprise Resource Planning • Naval Acquisition Career Center • Naval Audit Service • Naval Center for Cost Analysis • Naval Civil Law Support Activity • Naval Criminal Investigative Service Command • Naval Education and Training Command • Naval History and Heritage Command • Naval Information Warfare Systems Command • Office of Naval Intelligence • Naval Legal Service Command • Naval Postgraduate School • Naval Research Laboratory • Naval War College • Naval Safety Command • Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals • Navy Installations Command • Navy International Programs Office • Navy Office of Community Outreach • Navy Office of Information, East • Navy Office of Information, West • Navy Public Affairs Support Element • Navy-Marine Corps Appellate Review Activity • Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary • Office of Civilian Human Resources • Office of Naval Research Global • Office of Small Business Programs • Secretary of the Navy’s Council of Review Boards • Strategic Systems Programs • United States Naval Academy • United States Navy Band • USS Constitution • US Sending State Office for Italy • Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals

United States Marine Corps (USMC)

• Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. • Marine Corps Combat Development Command • Marine Corps Installations Command • Marine Corps Intelligence • Marine Corps Logistics Command • Marine Corps National Capital Region Command • Marine Corps Recruiting Command • Marine Corps Systems Command • Marine Corps Training and Education Command • Marine Corps Forces Command • Marine Corps Forces Korea • Marine Corps Forces Reserve • Marine Corps Embassy Security Group • Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity • Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade • Program Executive Officer Land Systems

Department of the Air Force

Office of the Secretary of the Air Force

• Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy • Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs • Office of the General Counsel of the Air Force • Office of the Inspector General of the Air Force • Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force • Office of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force • United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps • Office of the Chief Scientist of the Air Force • Office of the Surgeon General of the Air Force • Office of the Chief of Chaplains of the Air Force

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Air Force Major Commands

• Air Combat Command • Air Mobility Command • Air Education and Training Command • Air Force Global Strike Command • Air Force Materiel Command

Reserve and Auxiliary Components

• Air Force Reserve Command • Air Reserve Personnel Center • Air National Guard • Civil Air Patrol (CAP)

Direct Reporting Units

• Air Force District of Washington • Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center • United States Air Force Academy

Field Operating Agencies

• Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation • Air Force Audit Agency • Air Force Cost Analysis Agency • Air Force Flight Standards Agency • Air Force Historical Research Agency • Air Force Inspection Agency • Air Force Legal Operations Agency • Air Force Manpower Agency • Air Force Medical Readiness Agency • Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations • Air Force Office of Special Investigations • Air Force Personnel Center • Air Force Operations Group • Air Force Public Affairs Agency • Air Force Review Boards Agency • Air Force Safety Center • Air National Guard Readiness Center • National Air and Space Intelligence Center

U.S. Space Force

U.S. Space Force Major Commands

• Space Operations Command • Space Training and Readiness Command • Space Systems Command

Direct Reporting Units

• Space Rapid Capabilities Office • Space Development Agency • Space Warfighting Analysis Center

United States Department of Education

Office of the Secretary of Education (OSE)

• Office of Communications and Outreach • Office of Finance and Operations • Office of Inspector General • Office of the General Counsel • Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs • Office for Civil Rights • Office of Educational Technology • Office of the Chief Information Officer • Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development • Budget Service • Risk Management Service

Office of Deputy Secretary of Education (ODSE)

Institute of Education Sciences (IES)

• National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance • National Center for Education Research • National Center for Education Statistics • National Center for Special Education Research • National Board for Education Sciences

Office of the Under Secretary (OUS)

• Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education • Office of Federal Student Aid • Office of Postsecondary Education

White House initiatives and operating commissions

• Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives • White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders • White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics • White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities • White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans • White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaskan Native Education • Commission on Presidential Scholars • National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation

Advisory bodies

• Historically Black College and Universities Capital Financing Advisory Board • National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity • National Advisory Council on Indian Education • National Board of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education

Federally-aided corporations

• American Printing House for the Blind • Gallaudet University • Howard University • National Technical Institute for the Deaf

United States Department of Energy

United States Department of Health and Human Services

United States Department of Homeland Security

Headquarters Offices and Directorates

Component Agencies

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

Executive Offices

Administrative Offices

Agencies

United States Department of the Interior (DOI)

United States Department of Justice (DOJ)

United States Department of Labor (DOL)

Office of the Secretary (OSEC)

• Executive Secretary • Centers for Faith and Opportunity Initiative • Office of the Ombudsman for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Programs • Office of Public Liaison

Offices under the Deputy Secretary of Labor

• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy • Office of the Chief Financial Officer • Office of the Chief Information Officer • Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs • Office of Emergency Management • Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs • Office of Labor-Management Standards • Office of Public Affairs • Office of Disability Employment Policy • Office of the Solicitor • Office of Worker's Compensation Program

Administrations

Boards under the Office of Administrative Law Judges

Bureaus

Miscellaneous

United States Department of State (DOS)

Office of the Secretary

Reporting to the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources

Reporting to the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security

Reporting to the Under Secretary for Human Rights, Civilian Security, and Democracy

Reporting to the Under Secretary for Environment, Energy, and Economic Growth

Reporting to the Under Secretary for Management

Reporting to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs

Reporting to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

Permanent diplomatic missions

United States Department of Transportation

Operating administrations

United States Department of the Treasury

=== Departmental offices === === Bureaus === • Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau • Bureau of Engraving and Printing • Bureau of the Fiscal Service • Financial Crimes Enforcement Network • Internal Revenue Service (IRS) • Office of the Comptroller of the Currency • Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration • Office of the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery • Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program • United States Mint

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

• Office of General Counsel • Office of Management • Office of Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness • Office of Information and Technology • Office of Enterprise Integration • Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs • Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs • Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction • Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection • Veterans Experience Office • Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization • Office of Inspector General

Agencies

• Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) • National Cemetery Administration (NCA) • Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) • Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Independent agencies, tribunals, and government-owned corporations

Administration, records, and federal property

Civil rights

Civil service

Commerce

Defense and security

Elections

Government commissions, committees, and consortia

Education and broadcasting

Energy and science

Foreign investment

Interior

Labor

Monetary and financial

Postal

Retirement

Seat of government

Transportation

Volunteerism

Joint programs and interagency agencies

Special Inspector General Office

Quasi-official agencies

Arts & cultural agencies

Museum agencies

Commerce & technology agencies

Defense & diplomacy agencies

Human service & community development agencies

Interior agencies

Law & justice agencies

Explanatory notes