Found this at the bottom of the article:

https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2020-featured-story-archive/history-of-cias-seal.html

"And while we’re not sure there was any real ‘winner’ of the employee design contest, our votes most certainly would have gone to the owl-and-lantern design. Why? Because it’s a hoot, that’s why."