# US Intelligence Agencies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 18, 2001, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449 "2001-04-18T20:52:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/1 "2001-04-18T20:52:03Z")
Sent to me by a reader who asked me to post it: Did anybody notice that in SDSTAFF Manny’s answer to the question about what the 13 U.S. intelligence agencies are and what they do, he didn’t actually list the agencies or their responsibilities? Isn’t that an awkward omission? I grant there’s a link to yet another web site that does offer a list, but web sites are ephemeral things. The Straight Dope, or its junior leagues, last. I hope the answer’s patched up before being laid to rest in the archives. Joseph Nebus ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/2 "2001-04-19T00:04:08Z")
Pretty good idea. Uncle Sam could decide to clam up tomorrow, and then the piece would look pretty silly, wouldn’t it? Also, as our correspondent points out, the Straight Dope is widely expected to outlast not only that website, but also the entire internet _and_ the United States itself (the successor regime is kind of a sensitive matter, so don’t ask about it, OK?). I’ll write up a little bit on each one and run it by **Ed** to see what he says. Thanks for the letter! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/3 "2001-04-19T00:55:41Z")
Geez–_two_ Moderators have posted to this thread; one of them _started_ the thread, and the other one is the _author_ of the Staff Report in Question, and neither one of you posted a link to the Staff Report in Question, which is of course [What are the 13 U.S. intelligence agencies?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspyagencies.html) Tsk, tsk. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/4 "2001-04-19T11:58:01Z")
Have you noticed that _still_ nobody has actually listed the thirteen agencies? Now you’ve got me really curious. I’ve got to go see the site marked. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/5 "2001-04-19T11:59:10Z")
Here they are: ## Director of Central Intelligence Central Intelligence Agency Community Management Staff National Intelligence Council ## Department of Defense Defense Intelligence Agency National Security Agency National Imagery & Mapping Agency National Reconnaissance Office Air Force Intelligence Army Intelligence Marine Corps Intelligence Navy Intelligence Departmental Intelligence Elements (non-DoD) Department of State Department of Energy Department of the Treasury Federal Bureau of Investigation ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/6 "2001-04-19T12:06:33Z")
Manny has amended the Staff Report, and it will appear shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/7 "2001-04-19T12:43:57Z")
Gee, I assumed he didn’t list them 'cause the Illuminati told him not to… ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/8 "2001-04-19T19:04:36Z")
CalMeacham, your list is confusing. Most notably, there are more than 13 entries. I think this is because there are some headers. I will try to clean up the list for easier reading. **Top level oversight of all agencies** Director, Central Intelligence Agency Community Management Staff National Intelligence Council **Agencies** Central Intelligence Agency \*\*Department of Defense \*\* Defense Intelligence Agency National Security Agency National Imagery & Mapping Agency National Reconnaissance Office Air Force Intelligence Army Intelligence Marine Corps Intelligence Navy Intelligence **Departmental Intelligence Elements (non-DoD)** Department of State Department of Energy Department of the Treasury Federal Bureau of Investigation ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/9 "2001-04-19T19:11:38Z")
Ack! Tried to preview and hit the wrong button. **Top level oversight of all agencies** Director, Central Intelligence Agency Community Management Staff National Intelligence Council **Agencies** 1. Central Intelligence Agency \*\*Department of Defense \*\* 2. Defense Intelligence Agency 3. National Security Agency 4. National Imagery & Mapping Agency 5. National Reconnaissance Office 6. Air Force Intelligence 7. Army Intelligence 8. Marine Corps Intelligence 9. Navy Intelligence **Departmental Intelligence Elements (non-DoD)** 10. Department of State 11. Department of Energy 12. Department of the Treasury 13. Federal Bureau of Investigation I’m not sure what qualifies as an “intelligence” agency, but that’s the list. Maybe that should be part of the answer Manny posts? ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/10 "2001-04-20T04:27:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > \*\*Geez–_two_ Moderators have posted to this thread; one of them _started_ the thread, and the other one is the _author_ of the Staff Report in Question, and neither one of you posted a link to the Staff Report in Question, which is of course [What are the 13 U.S. intelligence agencies?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspyagencies.html) Tsk, tsk. > \*\* I am SO embarrassed. - Jill I was just passing on someone else’s comments, but that’s no excuse. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/11 "2001-04-20T15:37:11Z")
I’m afraid they’re gonna give you the coffee mug with the big chip\* in it, Jill. Incidentally, the specific agencies within the Departments of State and the Treasury which count as being among the 13 official intelligence agencies are the State Department’s [Bureau of Intelligence and Research](http://www.odci.gov/ic/dsbir.html) and Treasury’s [Office of Intelligence Support](http://www.odci.gov/ic/tdois.html). Apparently the [Department of Energy](http://www.odci.gov/ic/doe.html) is itself considered an intelligence agency. [sub]\*Or will that be the coffee mug with the microchip in it?..hmmm[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/12 "2001-04-21T01:24:29Z")
[[I’m afraid they’re gonna give you the coffee mug with the big chip\* in it, Jill.]] I just really, really, really, really hope I don’t get a spanking!! ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/13 "2001-04-22T17:51:05Z")
Yeah, I pulled that out for the summary, **MEB**. The main reason it hasn’t been posted yet is that it is too long and boring and not entertaining at all. I’m going to try to punch it up a little bit, but there’s only so much you can do with “we deliver intelligence to the Secretary.” ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/14 "2001-04-22T20:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > The main reason it hasn’t been posted yet is that it is too long and boring and not entertaining at all. Oh, _sure_, that’s the reason. “Yeah, all the nitty-gritty details of the intelligence community are just too…um…boring–yeah, that’s it! boring! You really don’t want to hear about all that.” > [@](#): > > I’m going to try to punch it up a little bit, but there’s only so much you can do with “we deliver intelligence to the Secretary.” I suppose you could make a lot of factually correct statements in highly entertaining ways: “The State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research officially denies engaging in ‘wet work’ or having a corps of beautiful seductress-assassins.” “A spokesperson for the Department of Energy categorically denied that the DOE is secretly constructing a powerful death ray space station on the far side of the Moon.” “We could find no evidence to support the claim that the Office of Intelligence Support of the Department of the Treasury uses those little strips that say ‘USA’ that are embedded in all the newer bills to monitor everyone’s every movement.” ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-intelligence-agencies/62449/15 "2001-04-24T22:32:28Z")
Well, see, there’s the problem. I work for **Cecil** , so we, um, well, we, uh, let’s just say that we couldn’t print half their denials with a straight face and still be eradicating ignorance. Especially the stuff about the seductress-assassins. I personally haven’t met one, of course, but during the editing process I’m sure that **Ed** would have to correct me if I said anything. He’s got photos on his walls of him with some of those chicks from when **Cecil** arranged for them to visit him back in the '70s. So we gotta stick to their bland stuff.