On January 22, 1946, President Harry Truman signed a presidential directive creating the Central Intelligence Group ("CIG"). Around one year later, President Truman signed the National Security Act which abolished the CIG and created the Central Intelligence Agency ("CIA").

During World War II the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) formed to conduct espionage activities against enemies on behalf of the U.S. military. It was the first independent U.S. foreign intelligence agency. Shortly after World War II, President Truman dissolved the OSS and the power of the OSS was split up between the Departments of State and War. Then, in an effort to better coordinate foreign intelligence operations, President Truman created the Central Intelligence Group under the National Intelligence Authority by his Presidential directive on January 22, 1946.

Around one year later, in 1947, Truman signed the National Security Act which abolished the CIG and created the Central Intelligence Agency ("CIA") in another effort to develop a better foreign intelligence agency.

Today, the CIA is an independent civilian agency responsible for providing national security intelligence information to top-level U.S. officials. The CIA works independently and with other agencies to retrieve information about such things as foreign governments, corporations, espionage, and individuals which may pose a threat to U.S. security.

Since January 22, 1946, the United States has continued to grow in its intelligence operations through the CIA and the CIA owes it’s birthright to President Truman’s initiatives.