alphabet agency

A colloquial term, typically used in a mocking fashion, used to describe a government agency, usually one that is part of the US law enforcement and intelligence network, that uses an abbreviation consisting of letters. For example the ATF, FBI, NSA, CIA, and similar agencies are considered alphabet agencies. The term is particularly popular amongst the firearms community and on 4chan. Both of these communities have come into conflict with many of these agencies, and use this kind of language to mock the alphabet agencies. The cause of these conflicts include the ATF's enforcement and attempted enforcement of gun restrictions deemed illegitimate by the pro-gun community, the participation of other agencies assisting the ATF in said enforcement, alleged intrusion of privacy by intelligence agencies, the CIA's history of human rights violations such as MKultra, the FBI conveniently losing documents regarding the Hunter Biden controversy, the FBI allegedly plotting against selected political movements in favour of other parties, the ATF's cease and desist letter to Q regarding the Honey Badger pistol, the involvement of agencies in the Waco and Ruby Ridge sieges where atrocities were committed, crackdowns on legitimate gun accessory businesses for claims of their products (usually solvent traps) being able to be used as restricted accessories such as suppressors, as well as many more controversial acts by so-called alphabet agencies.