The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an agency of the United States federal government that is primarily responsible for administering foreign aid to civilians. President John F. Kennedy established USAID in 1961 by administrative order to carry out development assistance programs in the regions under the Foreign Assistance Act. Congress has updated the mandate through a number of annual appropriations bills and other legislation. Although technically an independent agency of the U.S. government, USAID is subject to the foreign policy directives of the President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of State, and the National Security Council. The USAID administrator works within the foreign policy directives and authority of the Secretary of State. USAID seeks to help people who are struggling to improve their living conditions, recover from disasters, or who are struggling to live in free and democratic countries. The agency has defined its goals as providing economic, development, and humanitarian assistance around the world to support the implementation of U.S. foreign policy. The agency operates in Africa, Asia, the Near East, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Eurasia.