Central Intelligence Agency

ABOUT CIA

Our mission is straightforward but critical: leverage the power of information to keep our Nation safe.

What is CIA?
The CIA is a U.S. government agency that provides objective intelligence on foreign countries and global issues to the president, the National Security Council, and other policymakers to help them make national security decisions.

What We Do
To stop threats before they happen and further U.S. national security objectives, we:

• Collect foreign intelligence;
• Produce objective analysis; and
• Conduct covert action, as directed by the president.

We do not make policy or policy recommendations. Instead, our Agency serves as an independent source of information for people who do.

We are not a law enforcement organization. However, we do work with the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and law enforcement agencies on many complex issues ranging from counterintelligence to counterterrorism.

OUR MISSION

At the CIA, our mission is to preempt threats and further U.S. national security objectives by:

• Collecting foreign intelligence that matters;
• Producing objective all-source analysis;
• Conducting effective covert action as directed by the president; and
• Safeguarding the secrets that help keep our Nation safe.

OUR VISION

Our vision is for CIA’s information, insights, and actions to consistently provide tactical and strategic advantage for the United States.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Our employees are guided by our key principles, core values, and highest aspirations. These standards keep us on course as we work to protect our Nation and advance its interests.

Service
We put our Nation first, Agency before unit, and mission before self. We take pride in being diverse, inclusive, agile, responsive, and consequential.

Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of conduct. We provide information and analysis without personal bias. We maintain the Nation’s trust through accountability and oversight.

Excellence
We bring the best of our diverse backgrounds and expertise to everything we do. We are self-aware, reflecting on our performance and learning from it. We strive to give all officers the tools, experiences, and leadership they need to excel.

Courage
We execute difficult, high-stakes, and often dangerous tasks. We carefully manage risk, but we do not shy away from it. We value sacrifice and honor our fallen. Explore our legacy.

Teamwork
We stand by one another. Collaboration, both internal and external, underpins our success. Learn more about working at CIA. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are mission imperatives.

Stewardship
We protect our sources and methods from the moment our service begins until our last breath.