Getting information on the intelligence spending habits of the United States has been virtually impossible over the years, with only a single dollar figure of all spending everywhere released publicly, usually in the $70-$75 billion range.
But there are 16 distinct civilian spy agencies in the United States, and then there’s military intelligence spending on top of that. Yet when Congress gets the bill and is asked to approve the spending, it just gets the one number lumping everything together.
In fact, the only look they’ve ever really gotten at how that money is divvied up is a leak from Edward Snowden, which showed a handful of the top-line figures for individual agencies. Many in Congress say that’s not good enough.
A group in the House of Representatives led by Reps. Peter Welch (D – VT) and Cynthia Lummis (R – WY) are pushing a new bill that would require individual dollar values for each of the 16 civilian spy agencies. The White House has yet to comment on the matter, but the fact that they have refused to provide such data when asked suggests they’ll also be opposed to being forced to hand it over.
The most transparent administration in the country's history! Please.
This administration will display a tin ear right up to the moment members of congress from both parties decide to expunge the legacies of the Bush administration with an impeachment of the current president. Once that happens even many of the president's current supporters will see impeachment as a way to restore America in the eyes of the world.
I wonder if this Black 'Budget' includes all the cash they siphon off from all the dope coming they allow to continue to be produced and come exported from Afghanistan??? This self funding never gets reported to Congress. When we were in Vietnam all the dope came out of the golden triangle of a Burma and Laos. When Ronnie Reagan had his little proxy war in Central America all the crack flooded the streets of America. But hey, I'm just a conspiracy theorist, you should not listen to anything I wave to say because we're all crazy.
You said aloud exactly what I am thinking as well. All of the illegal drug trafficing that has been going on since the Vietnam war, all the way through Nicaragua and up to now in Afghanistan courtesy of our own guys in the white hats versus those evil doers in the name of freedom and democracy. Sure it is. Tell me another fairy tale!
Ripping off the US taxpayer–the best business in the world.
Ripping off the US taxpayer–the best business in the world.
Ripping off the US taxpayer–the best business in the world.
For a legislator, the simple solution is to vote "no" on any budget that does not provide sufficient detail, even on votes "to keep the government open".
The same solution could also apply to budget requests that are not in balance.
Easy enough to force. Congress votes 'no' on giving them any intel money until Congress gets what it wants.
Anyone remember the movie Charlie Wilson's war. When Charlie Wilson doesn't get an answer from the CIA, he tells them their budget is getting cut for every hour that he doesn't get an answer.
If Congress really wants this, then Congress can have it.