Covert actions

Covert Action and Clandestine Activities ofthe Intelligence Community: SelectedDefinitions in Brief 

Covert action is codified as an activity or activities of the United Sates Government to influence political, economic, or military conditions abroad, where it is intended that the role of the United States will not be apparent or acknowledged publicly. It does not include

• activities with the primary purpose of acquiring intelligence, traditional counterintelligence activities, traditional activities to improve or maintain the operational security of United States government programs, or administrative activities;
• traditional diplomatic or military activities or routine support to such activities;
• traditional law enforcement activities conducted by United States government law enforcement agencies or routine support to such activities; 
• activities to provide routine support of any other overt activities of other United States government agencies abroad. 

Covert action is generally intended to influence conditions short of an escalation by the United States that might lead to a sizable or extended military commitment.6 Unlike traditional intelligence collection, covert action is not passive. It has a visible, public impact intended to influence a change in the military, economic, or political environment abroad that might otherwise prove counterproductive if the role of the United States were made know.