Snowden Leaks Reveal Black Budget of US Spy Networks

Snowden Leaks Reveal Black Budget of US Spy Networks

Ever heard of the United States’ “black budget?” Honestly, I hadn’t until former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden decided to go public with all kinds of “secretive” government information. The Washington Post actually got a copy of this 178-page, $52.6 billion “black budget” for the fiscal 2013 that details the objectives, success and failures of 16 spy agencies with a total of approximately 107,035 employees.

To put this “black budget” into perspective, if all 107,035 employees were paid the exact same salary from this $52.6 billion, each employee would bring in an approximate yearly salary of $491,428 and some change. Now, in my opinion, that’s big “bucks” for some meniscal returns on investment!

You see, since the September 11th incident of 2001, U.S. spy agencies have not really been able to provide earth-shattering information to combat the range of security threats that the U.S. faces, according to this top secret budget. But, what this budget does describe is cutting-edge technologies, like weapons of mass destruction, agent recruiting and ongoing operations, like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and cyberwarefare.

Although The Washington Post must withhold some of the budget’s information, due to sensitive details that could give foreign intelligence insight into the U.S.’s priorities, sources and methods, some notable revelations were found:

  • The CIA requested a $14.7 billion budget for 2013, more than another other spy agency;
  • The CIA and NSA plan to aggressively hack into foreign computer networks to steal information and/or sabotage enemy systems;
  • Pakistan is described as an “intractable target;”
  • Counterintelligence operations “are strategically focused against China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Israel;”
  • NSA plans to investigate at least 4,000 possible insider threats in 2013;
  • Intelligence agencies are fixed on terrorism as the biggest threat to national security;
  • Iran, Russian and Chinese governments are difficult to penetrate;
  • U.S. intelligence about Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs has five “critical” gaps; and
  • North Korea’s government is the most transparent, yet the U.S. doesn’t know hardly anything about the intentions of Kim Jong Un.

As if this isn't eye opening enough, for an interactive, graphic representation of the “black budget,” click here.

Sources: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/national/black-budget/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/black-budget-summary-details-us-spy-networks-successes-failures-and-objectives/2013/08/29/7e57bb78-10ab-11e3-8cdd-bcdc09410972_story.html

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Live From ISC West 2023: Day 1

    ISC West 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada, has officially begun! Make sure to keep an eye on Security Today’s ISCW Live 2023 page, as well as our associated Twitter accounts—@SecurToday and @CampusSecur—for the latest updates from the show floor at the Venetian Expo. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • It Happened Again

    Just yesterday (as of this writing), it happened again. A 28-year-old woman shot her way into a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday and killed three children and three adults, according to national news. AP News reports that the victims were three 9-year-old children, a top school administrator, a substitute teacher, and a school custodian Read Now

  • Let's Get to Work

    You are standing at the conference center doors just waiting to get into the exhibit hall. I know you are because I’m standing next to you. This week at ISC West has been three years in the making. Last year was encouraging, and here we are waiting for the Big Show. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Using Modern Technology

    Using Modern Technology

    Workplace violence is a serious and growing challenge for many organizations — including those in the healthcare industry. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • HID Signo Readers

    HID Signo Readers

    HID Global has announced its HID® Signo™ Biometric Reader 25B that is designed to capture and read fingerprints in real-world applications and conditions. 3

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3

  • Dahua 2-Wire IP Video Intercom System

    Dahua 2-Wire IP Video Intercom System

    Dahua Technology is introducing a new line of expandable 2-wire IP video intercom solutions for the North America market. The New 2-wire IP video intercom is more advanced, cost effective, and designed to help businesses increase their security. 3