Wyden, Welch, Lummis Introduce Bill Seeking More Transparency for Intelligence Community
Legislation requiring the president to disclose in his or her annual budget request to Congress the top-line spending levels at the 16 federal agencies known to conduct intelligence activities was introduced Wednesday by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Reps. Peter…
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Welch, D-Vt., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., a joint news release said. Top-line spending levels for federal intelligence activities are now treated as classified information, the release said. The 9/11 Commission recommended top-line spending be declassified, which is what the Intelligence Budget Transparency Act would do, the release said. The bill was endorsed by former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., who was vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. “America needs competent and effective intelligence gathering agencies,” and “Congress must exercise prudent and diligent oversight to assure the American taxpayer is getting what it’s paying for,” Hamilton said. Wyden said: “My House colleagues and I are pushing to declassify the top-line budget numbers for each intelligence agency to provide Americans with more information about how their tax dollars are spent, in a responsible manner that protects national security.” He said he introduced a bill about 10 years ago that required the overall intelligence budget to be public and said national security hasn't been harmed by the release of the information. “The top-line intelligence budgets for America's 16 intelligence agencies are unknown to the American taxpayer and largely unknown to the Members of Congress who represent them,” Welch said. “It's led to dubious policies, wasted money and questionable effectiveness,” he said. “Requiring the public disclosure of top-line intelligence spending is an essential first step in assuring that our taxpayers and our national security interests are well served," Welch said. The legislation would apply to the Air Force Intelligence, Army Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Coast Guard Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency, the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security and Treasury, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Marine Corps Intelligence, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, NSA and Navy Intelligence.