Funding

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) provides broad budgetary authorities to the Director of National Intelligence, but requires that the President issue guidelines to ensure that the DNI exercises its authorities as defined by the IRTPA and in a manner that respects the statutory responsibilities of the Office of Management and Budget and Cabinet departments.

For budgetary purposes, intelligence spending is divided between the National Intelligence Program; Tactical Intelligence and Related Activities, which covers programs supporting the operating units of the armed services; and the Military Intelligence Program, which covers programs, not-necessarily tactical, that are of primary concern to the Department of Defense (DoD).

Only a small part of the intelligence budget is made public. The bulk of intelligence spending is contained within the DoD’s budget. Spending for most intelligence programs is delineated in classified addendums to legislation covering intelligence and national defense authorization and appropriations. Members of Congress all have access to these documents, but must make special arrangements to read them.