Foreign policy & defense
covert action
Activity intended to influence conditions abroad where the U.S. role is meant to stay unacknowledged. It requires a written presidential finding and notice to Congress.
In full
The National Security Act requires the President to sign a finding that an action is necessary and to notify the intelligence committees, in limited cases the Gang of Eight, in a timely fashion. Covert action is distinguished from clandestine military activity, which is hidden in execution but acknowledged as U.S. action.
Where to go next
Keep going
Browse every term in the glossary, or see the vocabulary in motion in the How government works walkthroughs.
A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.