Central Intelligence Agency

In celebration of George Washington's 284th birthday, we are highlighting tradecraft employed to secure America's independence from the British and insights on its use today. Were it not for the use of secret writing, concealment devises, propaganda, and intercepted communications, there may have been a very different outcome to the War of Independence.

This strategy presents a unified roadmap for diversity and inclusion goals, actions, and accountability measures at CIA over the next three years. It builds upon the foundational work of previous studies, which identified barriers and factors that undermined greater diversity and inclusion within CIA’s workforce and leadership ranks.

CIA recently welcomed former President George H.W. Bush back to CIA headquarters to mark the 40th anniversary of his swearing-in as Director of Central Intelligence. Learn why Bush's tenure marked a turning point for the Agency, and why he remains one of the most beloved directors in CIA's history.

CIA’s concern over UFOs was substantial until the early 1950s because of the potential threat to national security from these unidentified flying objects. Most officials did not believe the sightings were extraterrestrial in origin; they were instead concerned the UFOs might be new Soviet weapons. Still, we know a thing or two about how to investigate a flying saucer.

CIA declassified hundreds of documents in 1978 detailing the Agency’s investigations into unidentified flying objects. To help navigate the vast amount of data contained in our FOIA UFO collection, we’ve decided to highlight a few documents both skeptics and believers will find interesting. The truth is out there; click on the links to find it.

The fields in the Economy section for all countries have been rolled forward one year to include numerical and textual information through 2015.

On February 17, 1950, President Harry S. Truman signed an Executive Order authorizing this as the official seal of the Central Intelligence Agency. He autographed and presented this rendition to then Director Roscoe Hillenkoetter.