Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce oversees a broad mix of agencies whose work touches science, trade, technology, and the basic data the country relies on to understand itself. It promotes economic growth by supporting American businesses, tracking the economy, protecting intellectual property, advancing technical standards, and studying the natural environment that commerce depends on.

Measuring the country and its economy: The Census Bureau counts the population and shapes how political power and federal funding are distributed, while the Bureau of Economic Analysis produces the statistics used to gauge how the economy is doing.

Protecting ideas and setting technical rules: The United States Patent and Trademark Office grants patents and trademarks that let inventors and businesses protect their work, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology develops the measurement standards and cybersecurity guidance that underpin manufacturing and digital security. Commerce also plays a role in shaping the international technical standards that keep American products compatible with markets abroad, a subject covered in How the Government Champions International Standards for U.S. Economic Power.

Connecting communities and studying the environment: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration works on internet access and the airwaves that carry wireless signals, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracks weather, climate, and ocean conditions that affect daily life and long-term planning. Commerce also reviews foreign investment for national security concerns, as explained in How the Department of Commerce Reviews Foreign Investments for National Security Risks.