The House Un-American Activities Committee targeted government employees and regular citizens.
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was a federal agency that called people in who were suspected of being communist or having ties with the Soviet Union. Lead by Senator Joe McCarthy, this agency called in thousands of people into Congressional hearings to question them about their political beliefs. Individuals associated with the HUAC or being called in often had their reputation ruined, resulting in the loss of their job. This organization was later seen as one that violated the constitutional rights of American citizens.