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What kinds of work are carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Operations?
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Central Intelligence Agency
Seal of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Operations is primarily responsible for the clandestine collection of intelligence, commonly known as espionage.1
The work carried out by this directorate includes:
- Clandestine Intelligence Gathering: The recruitment and management of agents in the field to obtain secret information.1
- Covert Operations: The execution of special, often sensitive operations, which can include activities such as subversion.1
To maintain secrecy, these activities are frequently conducted under various covers. This includes the use of diplomatic status, as well as the creation or acquisition of corporations and other "front" companies to facilitate operations. While these activities are a central part of the agency's public image, they represent only a small portion of the total CIA budget.1