Spy Charge

By Thomas Duffy / October 28, 2011 at 2:15 PM

The United States spent $54.6 billion in fiscal year 2011 for national intelligence programs, according to a statement issued this morning by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Clapper's office is required by law to release the dollar figure no later than 30 days after the end of the fiscal year. Beyond the number Clapper's not revealing anything else, as reflected in his statement:

Any and all subsidiary information concerning the NIP budget, whether the information concerns particular intelligence agencies or particular intelligence programs, will not be disclosed. Beyond the disclosure of the NIP top-line figure, there will be no other disclosures of currently classified NIP budget information because such disclosures could harm national security. The only exceptions to the foregoing are for unclassified appropriations, primarily for the Community Management Account.

66911