Pentagon renews fight for control over defense intelligence budgets

The Pentagon has renewed its strong support for House language preserving the Defense secretary's control of intelligence budgets, as Senate conferees on intelligence overhaul legislation negotiated Friday to give that budget authority to a new national intelligence director.

In a letter sent Thursday to House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he supports the House position that would retain the Pentagon's oversight of funding for the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office, commonly known as combat support agencies. In the letter, which was read to CongressDaily, Myers said he believes the Defense secretary should have responsibility for operation of the combat support agencies, "including budget preparation and execution."

Myers, who spoke with Hunter before sending him the letter, said budget proposals should come up from the agencies through the Defense secretary to the national intelligence director to accommodate war-fighting capabilities. He added that the secretary should continue to pass appropriations on to these combat suppport agencies, noting that the House bill would maintain this role. "My recommendation is that this critical provision be preserved in the conference," he wrote. He added that establishing the budget process in this manner allows the combat support agencies to "continue their outstanding support" to the troops in the field.

Meanwhile, negotiations on a House compromise proposal continued behind closed doors for a second day, with some signs of apparent progress. But unless conferees have a deal by Wednesday, approval of a final bill would have to wait until the lame duck session next month.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., must provide members with 72 hours notice to return to Washington, and Wednesday would be the last day he could do that and still get a bill to the White House before Election Day.

Senators had complained they had not yet seen the House proposal in writing, but House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., said a written version of a House compromise proposal covering the national intelligence director and the proposed countertererrorism center would be sent to the Senate on Friday. Hoekstra added that he does not expect House Intelligence ranking member Jane Harman, D-Calif., or Senate conferees "to fully embrace" the House proposal.

"It would be unrealistic to say there is not sufficient work to be done. We will work through the weekend," Hoekstra said. ,p. Senate Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, held out hope they can get a bill to the White House before Election Day, but added, "That's a very ambitious goal."

The House's compromise language would move the chamber closer to the Senate's position giving a national intelligence director strong budget and decision-making authority.