CIA to Shut Down The World Factbook

The US Central Intelligence Agency will shut down The World Factbook, an online resource used by millions of people around the world.

The World Factbook contained regularly updated statistics and information about countries and communities around the world in an easy-to-understand and searchable format.

A statement on the CIA website did not give a reason for the decision, only stating that the publication was “complete” and encouraging readers to seek information elsewhere.

The project was originally launched during World War II as a classified internal program called JANIS (Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies).

It was created to standardize “basic intelligence information” — fundamental and factual information about the world — among various US government agencies.

The road to the World Factbook

In 1947, the program was transferred to the CIA and renamed to the National Intelligence Survey, and in 1971, the World Factbook was launched as an annual summary reference book.

In 1975, a non-classified version became available to the general public for the first time, and in the 1990s, a digital version was published online.

All data was freely available as public domain.

According to previous versions of the website, the resource is particularly popular during the school year in the US, while traffic decreases significantly during the summer months.

“Although The World Factbook no longer exists, we hope that, given its global reach and legacy, you will continue to be interested in the world and find ways to explore it… personally or virtually,” the CIA said.

Although no specific reason was given for the closure of the World Factbook, the Trump administration has made no secret of its intention to cut government programs that it believes do not contribute to the primary purpose of the relevant agencies and departments.

In February last year, the administration offered severance payments for voluntary resignation to all CIA employees and, according to reports, plans to cut another 1,200 jobs over the next few years.