A “provacator” is a person who provokes other people - to accomplish some specific end.
If I have that wrong, I’m sure you’ll let me know.
An agent provocateur IS a person hired to accomplish a specific end, such as the Justice Department hiring four men to pose as Oath Keepers and have them commit some despicable act to throw disrepute upon the real Oath Keepers. Or they could hire some people who pose as Trump supporters to post death threats against Megan Kelly to smear Trump supporters. Agent provocateurs are a hallowed instrument used since time immemorial.