DCI LETTER TO SENATOR STEVENS ON HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ACTIONS ON FY 1986 NFIP BUDGET

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M01007R000400930013-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 5, 2011
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: November 13, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/05: CIA-RDP87MO1007R000400930013-8
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY STAFF
13 November 1985
To: Mr. Keith Hall, Professional Staff
Member, Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence
From: Chief
Legislative iasion
Subject: DCI Letter to Senator Stevens on
House Appropriations Committee Actions
On FY 1986 NFIP Budget
Attached is the subject letter which might
be of use for the letter that you are preparing
for the Chairman and Vice Chairman. Also
attached is an "unclassified" version of the
letter that we prepared for Susan's use when the
bill gets to the Senate floor. I know you
wanted something more specific, and I hope to
get that to you early tomorrow, but the Admiral
thought this might also be useful.
INFORMATION
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/05: CIA-RDP87MO1007R000400930013-8
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In their recently released unclassified report on the FY 1986 budget
request, the House Appropriations Committee stated that ". . . the funds
recommended are adequate to support a viable National Foreign Intelligence
Program in the forthcoming fiscal year." I must register strenuous objection
to this statement. The reduction contained in the House bill, which is nearly
three times the reduction Intelligence has already taken as a result of the
Authorization process, would cause irreparable damage to the intelligence
community and jeopardize their ability to contribute to our national
security.
The Committee is not unaware of the fiscal pressures currently facing both
the nation and the Congress and stand ready to face the challenge, however, I
am compelled to state that the nation cannot afford to sustain the type of
cuts proposed by the House and expect to maintain a viable intelligence
posture.
In many instances the Intelligence Community is viewed within the overall
national security context. While this is generally appropriate, all too often
inappropriate linkages are fashioned, especially in the fiscal arena. The
House action on the FY 1986 request is, I believe, a direct result of a
"proportionality linkage," that is, whatever actions are taken on Defense are
transferable to intelligence. To a degree, this is understandable due to the
inclusion of large portions of intelligence within the overall DoD budget, but
this perception can lead to dangerous consequences. Without good intelligence
we will not know where best to apply our limited national resources, in either
an economic, political or military sense. Critical governmental policy
decisions in a constrained fiscal environment call for far more, not less,
intelligence to maximize return on investments in other areas of our national
economy. I submit that linkage of the type manifest in the House action
displays either a callous disregard for or a lack of elementary understanding
of this nation's intelligence posture.
The spate of unallocated or omnibus reductions during this year's process
has been carried over to the intelligence portion of the FY 86 budget request
by the House Appropriations Committee. Not only are these arbitrary
reductions harmful, they are based upon incomplete or outdated data.
Reductions to procurement and RDT&E appropriations for allegedly poor
obligation rates used data several months old. Obligation rates for
intelligence programs have substantially increased since July 1985. Loss of
the funds now would severely disrupt efforts already under contract.
Additionally, failure of the Senate to restore the full amount of the pay
reduction as authorized by the HPSCI and SSCI would severely impact upon the
Community's ability to operate and maintain existing systems and functions.
Neither the most favorable economic assumptions nor the most stringent
efficiencies and economies could affect such a reduction without severe
programmatic impact.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/05: CIA-RDP87M01007R000400930013-8