Agencies

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

ACL is a federal operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that funds aging, disability, community-living, and Medicare counseling networks.

Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA)

The Board is part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans Law Judges review eligible appeals from VA benefit decisions; the Board is different from the Veterans Benefits Administration office that handled the claim.

Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA)

This U.S. Department of State bureau manages passport services, visas, assistance for U.S. citizens abroad, and other consular programs.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS administers Medicare and works with states and territories on Medicaid, CHIP, and other federal health coverage programs.

Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

ETA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor. It oversees federal workforce programs and the federal side of the unemployment insurance system, while most claimant services are delivered through state and local systems.

Federal Student Aid (FSA)

Federal Student Aid is the U.S. Department of Education office that manages federal grants, work-study, student loans, the FAFSA system, and StudentAid.gov services.

Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA)

FNA is the U.S. Department of Agriculture agency responsible for federal nutrition-assistance programs, including SNAP and WIC. The Food and Nutrition Service became FNA on June 1, 2026.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The IRS administers federal tax laws and federal taxpayer records; state and local tax obligations use separate agencies.

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

NCHS is the federal government’s principal health statistics agency and maintains a directory that helps people locate the state, territory, or local office responsible for vital records.

Office of Appellate Operations (OAO)

OAO supports the Appeals Council, the final administrative review level for qualifying Social Security hearing decisions and dismissals.

Office of Authentications

This U.S. Department of State office issues apostille and authentication certificates under the Department’s seal for eligible documents used abroad.

Office of Community Services (OCS)

OCS administers federal grants and guidance for LIHEAP and other community programs, while states, territories, tribes, and local organizations usually serve households directly.

Office of Hearings Operations (OHO)

OHO is a component of the Social Security Administration that manages the nationwide hearing operation and administrative law judge hearings.

Social Security Administration (SSA)

SSA manages federal Social Security benefits, SSI, Medicare enrollment, and Social Security numbers and cards.

Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)

TAS is an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service that helps eligible taxpayers with unresolved IRS problems and advocates for taxpayer rights and systemic improvements.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

TSA protects U.S. transportation systems, conducts airport security screening, and publishes the federal identification rules used at TSA checkpoints.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

USCIS is the Department of Homeland Security component that decides many applications, petitions, and requests for immigration benefits inside the United States.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA oversees federal work involving food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, and nutrition through specialized agencies and offices.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

HHS coordinates federal health and human-services programs through divisions such as CMS, ACL, and the Administration for Children and Families.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

DHS coordinates federal homeland-security functions through components such as USCIS, TSA, CBP, FEMA, CISA, the Coast Guard, and other operational offices.

U.S. Department of State

The Department of State leads U.S. foreign policy and provides consular services, including passports, visas, help for U.S. citizens abroad, and authentication of eligible documents.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

VA is the federal department responsible for major Veterans benefits and services, including health care, disability compensation, education, home loans, pensions, burials, and decision reviews.

United States Postal Service (USPS)

USPS is an independent establishment of the executive branch that provides mail and package services and accepts official change-of-address requests.

Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)

VBA is the part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that administers many nonmedical benefits for Veterans, service members, families, and survivors.

State and territory agencies

Driver licenses, vital records, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and many other services are administered by the responsible state or territory.

Find official state and territory governments

IRS Independent Office of Appeals

Appeals is the IRS administrative forum for eligible audit, collection, penalty, offer, and other federal tax disputes.