The Intelligence Process
Threats Facing the United States
The Intelligence Community at Work
|
|
For budgetary purposes, intelligence spending is divided between
the National Intelligence Program (NIP) (formerly the National Foreign
Intelligence Program (NFIP)), Tactical Intelligence and Related
Activities (TIARA) (also known as intelligence-related activities),
which covers programs supporting the operating units of the armed
services, and the Joint Military Intelligence Program (JMIP), which
covers programs, not-necessarily tactical, that are of primary concern
to the Defense Department.
Only a small part of the intelligence budget is made public; the
bulk of the overall intelligence spending is contained within the
DoD budget. Spending for most intelligence programs is described
in classified annexes to intelligence and national defense authorization
and appropriations legislation. Members of Congress all have access
to these annexes, but must make special arrangements to read them.
Jurisdiction over intelligence programs is somewhat different in
the House and the Senate. The Senate Intelligence Committee has
jurisdiction only over the NIP but not JMIP and TIARA, whereas the
House Intelligence Committee has jurisdiction over all three sets
of programs. The preponderance of intelligence spending is accomplished
by intelligence agencies within DoD and thus in both chambers the
armed services committees are involved in the oversight process.
Other oversight committees are responsible for intelligence agencies
that are part of departments other than DoD. Most appropriations
for intelligence activities are included in national defense appropriations
acts, including funds for the CIA, DIA, NSA, the NRO, and NGA. Other
appropriations measures include funds for the intelligence offices
of the State Department, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland
Security. In the past, defense appropriations subcommittees have
funded the intelligence activities of CIA and the DoD agencies (although
funds for CIA have been included in defense appropriations acts,
these monies are transferred directly).
Intelligence budgeting issues were at the center of the debate
on intelligence reform legislation in 2004. On one hand, there was
determination to make the new Director of National Intelligence
(DNI) responsible for developing and determining the annual National
Intelligence Program budget (which is separate from the JMIP and
TIARA budgets that are prepared by the Secretary of Defense). The
goal was to ensure a unity of effort that arguably has not previously
existed and that may have complicated efforts to monitor terrorist
activities. On the other hand, the intelligence efforts within the
National Intelligence Program include those of major components
of the Defense Department, including NSA, the NRO, and NGA, that
are closely related to other military activities.
Some Members thus argued that even the National Intelligence Program
should not be considered apart from the Defense budget. After considerable
debate, the final version of the Intelligence Reform Act provides
broad budgetary authorities to the DNI, but requires the President
to issue guidelines to ensure that the DNI exercises the authorities
provided by the statute "in a manner that respects and does
not abrogate the statutory responsibilities of the heads of the
Office of Management and Budget and Cabinet departments."
|
|
|
