DCI BRIEFING OF HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ON OPEN BUDGET

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R002100010082-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 31, 2006
• Sequence Number: 82
• Publication Date: January 24, 1978
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2006/08/01 : CIA-RDP81M00980R002W
OLC 78-0469
24 January 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: DCI Briefing of House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence on Open Budget
iaZ
1. Today, the Director testified in open session before the
full Committee on the question of whether intelligence budget figures
should be officially released. The Director's testimony lasted
approximately one hour. The hearing was held in Room 2362, Rayburn
House Office Building. A transcript was taken by the House Reporter.
2. Members of the Committee present were:
Edward P. Boland (D., Mass.), Chairman
Bill D. Burlison (D., Mo.)
Morgan F. Murphy (D., Ill.)
John M. Ashbrook (R., Ohio)
Robert McClory (R., 111.)
J. Kenneth Robinson (R., Va. )
3. Staff members of the Committee included:
Thomas K. Latimer, Staff Director
Mike O'Neil
Jim Bush
Patrick Long
Martin Faga
Jeanne McNally
4. Accompanying the Director were:
Acting D/DCI/IC
eneral Counsel
EA/DCI
Assistant Legislative Counsel
5. The Director read his brief opening statement, the thrust of
which was that the Administration would not oppose the release of a
single figure comprising the national foriegn intelligence program budget.
However, the Administration remained adamantly opposed to any further
public breakdown of the budget. Questions to the witnesses included
the effect of information already leaked on the intelligence budget, the
extent of Soviet knowledge of the budget, the differences between
releasing defense budget figures and intelligence budget figures, and on
the constitutionality of not revealing the intelligence budget.
Approved For Release 2006/08/01 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R002100010082-8
 Approved For Release 2006/08/01 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R002100010082-8
6. Representatives Boland, Burlison and Murphy seemed
non-committal on their views regarding the open budget issue,
while Representatives Ashbrook, McClory and Robinson all
appeared to be strongly opposed. to release of any intelligence
budget figures.
7. Follow-up item: Mr., Lapham agreed to provide the
Committee with legal opinions and papers on the constitutionality
of not releasing intelligence budget figures.,
Distribution
Orig - OLC Subject
1 - OLC Chrono
Assts
OLC:DFM:sf (1 February 1978)
Approved For Release 2006/08/01: CIA-RDP81 M00980R002100010082-8