Government Sources and Abbreviations - A


Search goverment and public sources by acronyms and abbreviations. This page covers the names starting with the letter A.



Government Agencies and Organizations



A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
AAA Archives of American Art
  With over 16 million items in its continually growing collections, the Archives is the world’s largest and most widely used resource dedicated to collecting and preserving the papers and primary records of the visual arts in America.
AAD Access to Archival Databases
  Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept forever. Those valuable records are preserved in the National Archives and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family's history, need to prove a veteran's military service, or are researching an historical topic that interests you.
AAPC Accounting and Auditing Policy Committee
AAS Office of Airport Safety and Standards
  The Office of Airport Safety and Standards has primary responsibility for all airport program matters related to standards for airport design, construction, maintenance, operations, safety, Part 139 airport certification, and airport safety management systems as well as for oversight of the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP).
ABMC American Battle Monuments Commission
  The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) was established by Congress in 1923 to commemorate the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces where they have served overseas since 1917, and within the U.S. when directed by public law.
ABPP American Battlefield Protection Program
  The American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) promotes the preservation of significant historic battlefields associated with wars on American soil. The goals of the program are 1) to protect battlefields and sites associated with armed conflicts that influenced the course of our history, 2) to encourage and assist all Americans in planning for the preservation, management, and interpretation of these sites, and 3) to raise awareness of the importance of preserving battlefields and related sites for future generations. The ABPP focuses primarily on land use, cultural resource and site management planning, and public education.
ACC Air Combat Command
  Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va., is a major command. It was created June 1, 1992, by combining Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command . ACC is the primary provider of air combat forces to America's warfighting commanders.
ACD Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence
  In 1996, the U.S. government introduced the first significant currency design change in 67 years in order to combat the emergence of color copiers and other technologies used to counterfeit notes. As the quality and sophistication of reprographic technology improves, the sophistication and complexity of our currency notes will improve as well. To stay ahead of counterfeiters, the United States anticipates introducing new currency designs every 7-10 years. The most noticeable change in the latest design of currency is the addition of color.
ACDA United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
  The mission of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency is to strengthen the national security of the United States by formulating, advocating, negotiating, implementing and verifiying effective arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament policies, strategies, and agreements. In so doing, ACDA ensures that arms control is fully integrated into the development and conduct of United States national security policy.
ACE Automated Commerical Environment
  ACE is the commercial trade processing system being developed by CBP to facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen border security.
ACES Active Community Environments Initiative
  CDC's Active Community Environments Initiative (ACES) promotes walking, bicycling, and the development of accessible recreation facilities. It was developed in response to data from a variety of disciplines, including public health, urban design, and transportation planning. These data suggest characteristics of our communities such as proximity of facilities, street design, density of housing, availability of public transit and of pedestrian and bicycle facilities play a significant role in promoting or discouraging physical activity.
ACF Administration for Children and Families
  The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a federal agency funding state, territory, local, and tribal organizations to provide family assistance (welfare), child support, child care, Head Start, child welfare, and other programs relating to children and families.
ACFR Administrative Committee of the Federal Register
  The Administrative Committee of the Federal Register (ACFR) was established in 1935 under the Federal Register Act (FRA) (44 U.S.C. Chapter 15) as a permanent executive/legislative branch authority charged with overseeing the functions of the Federal Register publication system.
ACHP Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
  The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation promotes the preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of our nation's diverse historic resources, and advises the President and the Congress on national historic preservation policy.
AcqNet AcqNet
  Acquisition.gov is maintained by Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE), the
E-Gov Initiative that aggregates federal acquisition content by providing one website for regulations, systems, resources, opportunities, and training.
ACQWeb Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology
  As legislated by Congress, the primary responsibilities of the USD(AT&L) include: Supervising Department of Defense acquisition; Establishing policies for acquisition (including procurement of goods and services, research and development, developmental testing, and contract administration) for all elements of the Department of Defense; Establishing policies for logistics, maintenance, and sustainment support for all elements of the Department of Defense; and Establishing policies of the Department of Defense for maintenance of the defense industrial base of the United States.
ACS Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management
  The State Department's Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.
ACSFA Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance
  An independent committee providing expertise on student aid to congress and the secretary of education for over twenty years
ACYF Administration for Children, Youth, and Families
  The Administration on Children, Youth and Families is a part of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is administered by a Commissioner who is a Presidential appointee.
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADD Administration on Developmental Disabilities
  The Administration on Developmental Disabilities ensures that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to culturally-competent needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life.
ADDS Aviation Digital Data Service
ADF African Development Foundation
ADR Alternative Dispute Resolution
AES Automated Export System
AFC American Folklife Center
AFCARS Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System
  The Children's Bureau administers Federal and State reporting systems that provide data to monitor and improve child welfare outcomes.
AFI Assets for Independence Program
AFIS American Forces Information Service
AFMLS Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section
  The Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section provides centralized management for the Department's asset forfeiture program to ensure its integrity and maximize its law enforcement potential, while also providing managerial direction to the Department's components in prosecuting money laundering.
AFP Asset Forfeiture Program
AFRC Air Force Reserve Command
AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory
  AFRL is the Air Force's only organization wholly dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. We trace our roots to the vision of airpower pioneers who understood science as key to air supremacy. The passionate commitment of AFRL people to realize this vision has helped create the world's best air, space and cyberspace force.
AFROTC Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
  We are America's Airmen. We are warriors…we will fight and win wherever our nation needs us. The aerospace realm is our domain, and we are vigilant in our commitment to defend, control and use it in our nation's interest. We are leaders…we live our core values. We are a Total Force – Active, Guard, Reserve and Civilian – seamless in providing aerospace power.
AFRRI Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
AFRTS Armed Forces Radio and Television Service
AFS Air Facility System
AFSIC Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
  The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) specializes in identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices in support of USDA's effort to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and farmers worldwide.
AFSPC Air Force Space Command
AGC Army Geospatial Center
AGDC Alaska Geospatial Data Clearinhouse
AGID AGing Integrated Database
  The AGing Integrated Database (AGID) is an on-line query system based on AoA-related data files and surveys, and includes population characteristics from the Census Bureau for comparison purposes.
AGRICOLA Agricultural OnLine Access
AHRQ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AHS American Housing Survey
  The American Housing Survey (AHS) collects data on the Nation's housing, including apartments, single-family homes, mobile homes, vacant housing units, household characteristics, income, housing and neighborhood quality, housing costs, equipment and fuels, size of housing unit, and recent movers. National data are collected in odd numbered years, and data for each of 47 selected Metropolitan Areas are collected currently about every six years. The national sample covers an average 55,000 housing units. Each metropolitan area sample covers 4,100 or more housing units.
AID Agency for International Development
AMES Ames Laboratory
AML Abandoned Mine Lands
  The Bureau of Land Management's Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program enhances public safety and improves water quality by reducing or eliminating the effects of past hardrock mining in the western United States.
AMS Agricultural Marketing Service
AMTIC Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center
  The Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center (AMTIC) contains information on ambient air quality monitoring programs, monitoring methods, quality assurance and control procedures, and federal regulations related to ambient air quality monitoring. This site is primarily intended for use by air monitoring staff responsible for collecting ambient air monitoring data.
Amtrak National Railroad Passenger Corporation
ANA Administration for Native Americans
  The mission of ANA is to promote the goal of self-sufficiency and cultural preservation of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders organizations.
ANG Air National Guard
ANL Argonne National Laboratory
AO Administrative Office of U.S. Courts
  Created in 1939, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) serves the federal Judiciary in carrying out its constitutional mission to provide equal justice under law.
AOA Administration on Aging
AOC Architect of the Capitol
AOML Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
APH American Printing House for the Blind
  Founded in 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world's largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired. Learn more.
APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
  The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities.  These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues.
APIS Advanced Passenger Information System
APLAA Office of Asian Pacific, Latin American, and African Analysis
APP Office of Airport Planning and Programming
  The Office of Airport Planning and Programming is the principal organization responsible for all Airports program matters related to national airport planning, environmental and social requirements, airport grants, property transfers, and passenger facility charges. The office also ensures the adequacy of the substantive aspects of FAA rulemaking actions relating to these programs.
AQA Air Quality Analysis
AQS Air Quality System
  The Air Quality System (AQS) is EPA's repository of ambient air quality data. AQS stores data from over 10,000 monitors, 5000 of which are currently active. As discussed in more detail elsewhere, State, Local and Tribal agencies collect the data and submit it to AQS on a periodic basis.
ARB Administrative Review Board
ARBA Army Review Boards Agency
  The Army Review Boards Agency serves as the highest administrative level for review of personnel actions taken by lower levels of the Army and administers a number of boards including those listed below. (Click on board names below for more information on that board.)
ARC Archival Research Catalog
  Introducing NARAtions: Our blog about online public access to the records of the U.S. National Archives
ARIS Air Resources Information System
ARL Air Resources Laboratory
  The Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) conducts research and development in the fields of air quality, atmospheric dispersion, climate, and boundary layer science. Key activities include the development, evaluation, and application of air quality models; improvement of approaches for predicting atmospheric dispersion of hazardous materials; and the generation of new insights into air-surface exchange and climate variability and trends.
ARM Atmospheric Radiation Measurement
  The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility is a U.S. Department of Energy scientific user facility for the study of global climate change by the national and international research community.
ARPA Advanced Research Projects Agency
  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was established in 1958 to prevent strategic surprise from negatively impacting U.S. national security and create strategic surprise for U.S. adversaries by maintaining the technological superiority of the U.S. military.
ARPA-E Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy
ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  Recovery.gov is the U.S. government's official website that provides easy access to data related to Recovery Act spending and allows for the reporting of potential fraud, waste, and abuse.
ARS Agricultural Research Service
ASC Appraisal Subcommittee
ASL Assistant Secretary for Legislation
  The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation serves the Secretary as the primary link between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Congress.
ASPE Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
  The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) is the principal advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on policy development, and is responsible for major activities in policy coordination, legislation development, strategic planning, policy research, evaluation, and economic analysis.
ASPR Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
ATF Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
  ATF is a unique law enforcement agency in the United States Department of Justice that protects our communities from violent criminals, criminal organizations, the illegal use and trafficking of firearms, the illegal use and storage of explosives, acts of arson and bombings, acts of terrorism, and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.
ATFP Antiterrorism/Force Protection Directorate
  ATFP also provides a safe and secure environment for and deter acts of terrorism against DoD personnel, assets, and facilities under its responsibility through an effective, proactive, and viable FP and AT program. If deterrence fails, PFPA shall possess the capability to detect, defend against, respond to, defeat, and mitigate the effects of terrorism.
ATIP Anti-Trafficking in Persons
ATO Air Traffic Organization
  The primary service of the Air Traffic Organization is to move air traffic safely and efficiently. Our customers are commercial and private aviation and the military. Our employees are the service providers – the 35,000 controllers, technicians, engineers, and support personnel whose daily efforts keep the airplanes moving.
ATP Advanced Technology Program
  The President signed the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272) on August 9, 2007. This statute abolishes the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), but allows for continued support for previously awarded projects and the 56 new FY 2007 awards.
ATS Automated Targeting System
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
  The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR serves the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances.
ATUS American Time Use Study
  The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) measures the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, childcare, volunteering, and socializing.
ATW Air Toxics Web Site
  Toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants, are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects.
AWC Aviation Weather Center
  The Aviation Weather Center delivers consistent, timely and accurate weather information for the world airspace system. We are a team of highly skilled people dedicated to working with customers and partners to enhance safe and efficient flight.
AWIC Animal Welfare Information Center
  The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to provide information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, teaching, and exhibition.