Interior, U.S. Department of the

The cabinet-level federal department established in 1849 whose primary mission is to conserve and develop the nation's natural resources, including its fish and wildlife, minerals and land management, national parks, government and public buildings, and many other programs. Components include the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the National Park Service, the Geological Survey, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. At various times in its history, this department was also in charge of the nation's educational system, hospitals, and interstate commerce as well as the U.S. Bureau of the Census, which is currently under the U.S. Department of Commerce.