The details of the U.S. government’s top secret, $50 billion “black budget” for national intelligence is revealed in a blockbuster report from The Washington Post—driven by information provided by now-fugitive NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. The CIA gets far and away the most funding of the 16 agencies covered; the agency requested $14.7 billion for 2013, much higher than any outside estimate. Despite the enormous expense, the agencies report numerous “blind spots” where they have not been able to provide the president clear information on terrorist threats.
