Which agencies are designated as Cognizant Security Agencies (CSAs)?

• A. Department of Defense, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Homeland Security
• B. Department of Education, Department of Treasury, Federal Reserve
• C. Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, FBI, DHS
• D. Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, EPA, NASA

Answer: (A)

In the National Industrial Security Program, Cognizant Security Agencies are the federal bodies that take the lead in protecting classified information entrusted to contractors. They set security policy, oversee contractor security programs, and coordinate inspections and compliance to ensure consistent protection across industries dealing with classified material.

The agencies designated as CSAs are the Department of Defense, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Homeland Security. This combination covers military, intelligence, energy and nuclear, and homeland security responsibilities, which is why they’re named CSAs.

The other groups listed don’t hold this designation under the program. For example, CIA, NSA, and FBI are intelligence and law-enforcement entities, but they aren’t the CSAs designated to oversee industrial security; NASA and agencies like EPA or the Treasury aren’t designated CSAs under the National Industrial Security Program.