The U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) is a group of 18 government agencies and organizations that work together to gather and analyze information about national security threats. This includes agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA). Their main goal is to protect the United States and its interests by providing timely and accurate intelligence. The IC operates under the direction of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), who coordinates the efforts of these agencies. The community focuses on various areas, including counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and foreign intelligence, to ensure the safety and security of the nation.