Declassifying Total Intelligence Budget Figures Informs National Security Debate
"Greater transparency with regard to national security is not always a bad thing."
Washington, D.C.-. U.S Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today in response to the Director of National Intelligence's release of the total size of the National Intelligence Program budget. This number has been publicly released each year since 2007 pursuant to the requirements of the "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007" which included declassification language previously offered by Senator Wyden.
"Declassifying the total size of the national intelligence program budget has for three years given lawmakers and the public the ability to openly debate intelligence spending in relation to the larger defense budget. Previously it was not possible for legislators to publicly acknowledge whether intelligence spending was even going up or down. While the previous administration argued that revealing this information would jeopardize U.S. national security, it hasn't. Instead it serves as a useful reminder that greater transparency with regard to national security is not always a bad thing - often it can lead to a more informed and productive policy debate."
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