Which congressional committee investigated possible Communist influence in the U.S. government and society after World War II?

• A. Federal Bureau of Investigation
• B. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
• C. Internal Revenue Service
• D. National Security Agency

Answer: (B)

After World War II, fear of Communist influence led the U.S. to turn to a congressional body to probe suspected subversion. The House Un-American Activities Committee is the one that fits this role: a committee in the House of Representatives specifically charged with investigating alleged disloyalty and influence by communists in government, in the entertainment industry, in unions, and in other areas of society. Its high-profile hearings helped shape the era’s anti-communist climate.

The other options aren’t congressional committees. The FBI is a federal investigative agency, the IRS handles taxes, and the NSA is a signals‑intelligence agency. None of them are a House or Senate committee dedicated to investigating communist influence.