WASHINGTON – Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., Tuesday hailed disclosure of the aggregate figure of the nation’s FY2008 intelligence budget, as required by legislation drafted by HSGAC and enacted into law in 2007. The figure is $47.5 billion – a $4 billion increase from the previous year.
“Declassification of the top line of the intelligence budget was a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, and I am gratified that the Senate and House agreed to enact it, despite strong opposition,” Lieberman said. “I have long dedicated myself to increasing the transparency of government actions. This disclosure will make for a better informed citizenry, will increase the accountability of the intelligence community, and will in no way harm national security.”
Lieberman and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., led the Senate effort to enact the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act (H.R. 1) of 2007. The Act included Section 601 to declassify the top-line budget of the National Intelligence Program. The two also led the effort to organize the intelligence community to better respond to terrorist threats with passage in 2004 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act.