Which government organization's purpose was to investigate and root out disloyalty during the Red Scare?

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was established primarily to investigate and root out disloyalty, particularly during the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s. It aimed to uncover communist influences in American society, particularly in government, entertainment, and various other sectors. HUAC conducted investigations and hearings where individuals were called to testify about their political beliefs and associations. This was part of a broader effort in the United States during the Cold War to combat the perceived threat of communism.

The committee's notoriety was heightened by its famous hearings, which often targeted Hollywood figures and other prominent individuals, leading to blacklisting and significant scrutiny of personal and professional lives. This focus on rooting out alleged communists and disloyal citizens placed HUAC at the center of the anti-communist movement during this period, making it the correct answer in this context.

In contrast, the FBI, while also involved in investigations during the Red Scare under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover, primarily focused on criminal investigations and counterintelligence rather than legislative inquiries. The CIA was established later, in 1947, and its primary function is foreign intelligence gathering and international operations, not domestic investigations of disloyal