US spy agencies spent USD 49.8 billion gathering intelligence in fiscal 2009,a two billion increase over last year,officials announced on Friday. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair released the figure under a 2007 law that requires the secretive intelligence community to disclose the budget for the country's 16 spy agencies. The budget covers funds for a vast staff of spies and analysts as well as elaborate surveillance technology,including operations by the National Security Agency,the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). But the Office of the Director National Intelligence refused to offer a breakdown of the budget or provide any other details,saying it "could harm national security." The budget has grown for two years running,from 43.5 billion in 2007 to USD 47.5 billion in fiscal 2008,according to the ODNI. The budget figure covers the National Intelligence Program but does not include money for spying activities in support of military operations,which remains classified. "The release of the budget figure for the National Intelligence Program is an important element toward greater transparency," Blair said in a statement on Friday.
