The Central Intelligence Agency is an independent agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers. The CIA is separated into four basic components: the National Clandestine Service, the Directorate of Intelligence, the Directorate of Science & Technology, and the Directorate of Support. They carry out "the intelligence cycle," the process of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence information to top US governmental officials. They are located in Langley, Virginia.