The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is established in Washington, D.C. on April 4.

The Employment Act of 1946, signed into law on February 20 by President Harry S. Truman, creates the Council of Economic Advisors.

On December 18, the U.S Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States affirms the right of the government to intern Japanese aliens and Japanese citizens during a war emergency.

President Roosevelt issues Executive Order 8802 on June 25, which prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, and creed in corporations with federal contracts. It also creates the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC).