Final answer:
Federal executive agencies include the cabinet departments of the executive branch and independent agencies like the CIA, NASA, and the EPA. Cabinet departments are led by secretaries who report to the president, while independent agencies perform specialized tasks and are established by Congress for smooth government operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term ‘Federal executive agencies’ encompasses both the cabinet departments of the executive branch that support the president in executing federal functions, and various subagencies within these departments. Cabinet departments include prominent offices such as the Departments of State, Defense, Education, and Treasury, each led by a secretary who directly reports to the president and oversees a vast network to fulfill the department’s mission.
Unlike cabinet departments, independent executive agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are not represented in the president’s cabinet and conduct more specialized tasks. These agencies are established by Congress and are essential for smooth government and economic operations, and are responsible for regulatory oversight. They are considered independent because they are outside the direct regulatory authority of any single department and have a narrower focus.
Collectively, these entities form a significant part of the federal bureaucracy, responsible for a wide range of government functions such as policy implementation, intelligence gathering, space exploration, and environmental protection. The heads of these agencies are appointed by the president and, like their counterparts in the cabinet, must be confirmed by the Senate.