Independent Agencies
Independent agencies are federal agencies that exist outside of the Cabinet departments. They are established by Congress to address specific issues and often have regulatory or quasi-judicial functions. Many are headed by boards or commissions rather than a single administrator.
Independence: While part of the executive branch, independent agencies often have structural features designed to insulate them from direct presidential control, such as fixed terms for commissioners and bipartisan membership requirements.
Federal Independent Agencies
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental protection
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Space exploration
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Foreign intelligence
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Communications regulation
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Consumer protection
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Securities regulation
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Social security programs
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Labor relations
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Election oversight
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Financial consumer protection
Federal Reserve System
Monetary policy
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Science funding
Types of Independent Agencies
Independent Executive Agencies
Headed by single administrators appointed by the President (e.g., EPA, NASA, CIA). The President can generally remove the head at will.
Independent Regulatory Commissions
Headed by multi-member boards with fixed, staggered terms (e.g., FCC, SEC, FTC). Members can typically only be removed for cause.