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How did the CIA take covert action in Guatemala in 1954?

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George W. Bush and Porter J. Goss at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. — intelligence U.S. Pres. George W. Bush (front) and Porter J. Goss, director (2004–06) of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), heading to a press conference at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, March 3, 2005.

In 1954, the United States authorized a covert operation known as Operation PBSUCCESS to overthrow the government of Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz. Orchestrated by the Central Intelligence Agency, the campaign utilized a multifaceted approach to destabilize the administration.12

The CIA’s strategy included:

Psychological Warfare: The agency conducted a public-relations campaign that painted Árbenz as a communist sympathizer to undermine his legitimacy.12
Economic Pressure: The U.S. leveraged its influence to pressure the Guatemalan government, largely due to concerns regarding the United Fruit Company and American economic interests.12
Military Support: Operating from Honduras and El Salvador, the CIA organized and supported a small rebel force led by Carlos Castillo Armas.12

While the actual military threat from the rebel force was limited, the CIA successfully used exaggerations of the force's size to incite panic in the capital. Deprived of support from his own armed forces, Árbenz resigned on June 27, 1954, leading to the installation of Castillo Armas and the reversal of significant social and economic reforms. This intervention is widely recognized for its long-term negative impact on Guatemalan democracy and its contribution to decades of political instability.12