CIA Born: Truman Signs the National Security Act
Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 into law, instantly restructuring American governance by establishing the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security Council. This legislative pivot consolidated military command and intelligence gathering under a unified structure, directly ending the era where the Army and Navy operated as separate fiefdoms during the escalating Cold War.
July 26, 1947
79 years ago
Key Figures & Places
Central Intelligence Agency
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Harry S. Truman
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United States Air Force
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Cold War
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Joint Chiefs of Staff
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United States law
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National Security Act of 1947
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United States Department of Defense
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United States National Security Council
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Law of the United States
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