U.S. Geological Survey

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The U.S. Geological Survey is a federal agency tasked with researching ecosystems, natural resources, and potential natural hazards. The agency is the largest water, earth, biological science, and civilian mapping agency in the United States. As a research agency, it is a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior and possesses no regulatory authority, meaning that the agency exists to provide scientific information and not to issue regulations with the force of law.[1]

The U.S. Geological Survey in fiscal year 2023 employed the equivalent of 4,806 full-time employees. The agency's budget for fiscal year 2023 totaled $1.6 billion.[2]

History

In 1878, Congress requested that the National Academy of Sciences "recommend a plan for surveying and mapping the Territories of the Unites States that would secure the best possible results at the least possible cost." The academy recommended the following:[3]

  1. Rename the Coast and Geodetic Survey as the Coast and Interior Survey, transfer the division from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of the Interior, and give the division responsibility over mapping the land for geodetic (the geometric shape of land), topographic (detailed mapping or charting of an area's features), and land-parceling (dividing plots of land within a larger area) purposes.
  2. Establish the U.S. Geological Survey for "classification of the public lands, and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain."

These provisions were part of an appropriations bill for the fiscal year that began on July 1, 1879. President Rutherford B. Hayes (R) signed the bill into law on March 3, 1879. On March 20, 1879, Hayes nominated Clarence King as the first director of U.S. Geological Survey. The Senate confirmed King on April 3, and he took office on May 24, 1879.[4][5]

Structure

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Mission

The mission statement of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is as follows:[1]

“ The USGS monitors, analyzes, and predicts current and evolving Earth-system interactions and delivers actionable information at scales and timeframes relevant to decision makers.[6] ”
—U.S. Geological Survey

Responsibilities

The U.S. Geological Survey "collects, monitors, analyzes and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems." The agency conducts research in the following areas:[1][7]

  • Biology
  • Climate
  • Coasts
  • Energy
  • Environmental health
  • Geology
  • Information systems
  • Maps and mapping
  • Methods and analysis
  • Minerals
  • Natural hazards
  • Ocean
  • Planetary science
  • Science technology
  • Water

Staff

The director of the U.S. Geological Survey is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.[8]

For a listing of current staff, see this website.[9]

Budget and finance

The table below summarizes the agency's appropriations and FTEs from fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2024.[2]

U.S. Geological Survey appropriations and FTEs, FY 2022-2024 (in thousands)
Year Appropriations FTEs
2022 $1,648,336 4,589
2023 $1,607,631 4,806
2024 (requested) $1,854,922 5,198
Sources: U.S. Department of the Interior, "Budget Justifications and Performance Information Fiscal Year 2024 - U.S. Geological Survey," accessed February 27, 2024

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term U.S. + Geological + Survey

U.S. Geological Survey News Feed

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 U.S. Geological Survey, "Who We Are," accessed February 27, 2024
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 U.S. Department of the Interior, "Budget Justifications and Performance Information Fiscal Year 2024 - U.S. Geological Survey," accessed February 27, 2024
  3. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey, "Establishment of the U.S. Geological Survey," April 10, 2000
  4. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey, "History," accessed August 20, 2014
  5. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey, "Organizing the U.S. Geological Survey," April 10, 2000
  6. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  7. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey, "Science Explorer," accessed February 27, 2024
  8. ↑ Science, "To Lead USGS, Obama Turns to Agency Veteran," January 9, 2014
  9. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey, "Directory of Key Officials," accessed February 27, 2024
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