Which agency directs GEOINT support to planners, warfighters, and policymakers?

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is the primary agency responsible for providing geospatial intelligence support to planners, warfighters, and policymakers. Its mission encompasses collecting, analyzing, and disseminating geospatial data that is essential for U.S. national security and defense initiatives. The NGA produces critical products such as maps, imagery, and geospatial information that assist military operations and strategic planning, thus making it an indispensable entity in the realm of GEOINT.

In contrast, the Geospatial Intelligence Support Team (GIST) operates within NGA as a supporting unit, often deployed to provide on-the-ground geospatial support, but it does not have the overarching directive role of the NGA itself. The National Security Agency (NSA) focuses primarily on signals intelligence and cybersecurity rather than the broad field of geospatial intelligence. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engages in various security-related activities, including emergency response and infrastructure protection, but it does not lead GEOINT efforts directed at military and strategic planning as the NGA does.