U.S. intelligence agencies spend $47.5 billion in 2008

The U.S. intelligence community spent $47.5 billion in fiscal 2008 spying on terrorist groups and foreign countries, conducting electronic wiretaps and operating classified programs, the office of Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell said on Tuesday.

The budget figure, larger than the $43.5 billion spent in fiscal 2007, covers spending for the National Intelligence Program, which includes the National Security Agency, the CIA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and a dozen other agencies.

It does not include spending on tactical military intelligence programs. McConnell's office did not disclose details on how the funding was used or on specific programs it supports.

"Beyond the disclosure of the top-line figure, there will be no other disclosures of currently classified budget information because such disclosures could harm national security," the office said in a statement.

Congress required the DNI to disclose the top-line budget figure for the National Intelligence Program during fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2008 under an enacted 2007 bill aimed at implementing unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Beginning in fiscal 2009, the DNI can waive further disclosure of the overall intelligence budget by submitting a statement to the Senate and House intelligence committees that doing so would damage national security.