The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has announced it will cease publishing the World Factbook, a free online resource used by millions around the globe.
Frequently cited by journalists and academics, the Factbook offered regularly updated statistics and information about countries and communities all over the world, in an easily understood and searchable format.
A statement on the CIA's website did not include a reason for the decision, simply stating that the publication had "sunset" while encouraging readers to "stay curious about the world and find ways to explore it … in person or virtually".
First launched during World War II as a classified internal program named JANIS (Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies), the Factbook was originally commissioned as a way to standardise "basic intelligence" — fundamental and factual information about the world — across different agencies of the US government.
The program was taken over by the CIA in 1947 and renamed the National Intelligence Survey, before the Factbook was launched in 1971 as an annual summary of information.
An unclassified version was first made available to the public in 1975, and a digital version was published online in the 1990s, with the data freely available under public domain.
The website was particularly popular during the US school year, according to previous versions of the site, with traffic experiencing a noticeable drop-off during US summer months.
While no specific reason has been given for the Factbook's closure, the Trump administration has made no secret of its intent to cut government programs it does not consider to be furthering the core purpose of its agencies and departments.
The administration offered buyouts to every CIA employee in February last year, and is reportedly planning to cut about 1,200 further jobs at the agency over the next several years.
Posted by John3262005
10 Comments
I used this all the time as a kid, this fucking sucks.
Man, they are really taking away everything.
I used to use this website for school, and apparently a lot of students use it during the school year.
However, now it will be RIP CIA World Factbook
*A statement on the CIA’s website did not include a reason for the decision, simply stating that the publication had “sunset” while encouraging readers to “stay curious about the world and find ways to explore it … in person or virtually”.*
This paragraph is in the article, the CIA wants us to “stay curious”…. (???)
I used this back in high school but isn’t it a little weird how it was the CIA specifically giving this information and not say the State department
Bruh, that’s my childhood right here.
Any government program they can’t monetize to make Trump money will be cut. All must serve the corporate state, or risk being eliminated.
This actually hurts.
This was a free, high quality tool that let anyone access high quality information. It was a genuine good thing.
Once again, everything Republicans touch dies
They just don’t like any site that promotes “facts” and so they sunsetted it.
Wait, *every* CIA employee?
Were they trying to fire the entire CIA?
I hate this administration so fucking much. 😭
Guessing this is another DOGE cut