Pentagon’s black intel funding dropped in FY19

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s secret intelligence fund dropped in fiscal 2019, the first time in three years the black budget did not increase year over year.

The total Military Intelligence Program, or MIP, budget for FY19, including the base budget and overseas contingency operations account, was $21.5 billion, the Pentagon revealed Thursday.

MIP funding went as high as $27 billion in FY10, but by FY15 it hit a low point for the decade at $16.6 billion, according to numbers maintained by Avascent Analytics.

But starting in FY16, the MIP had three straight years of growth, going from $17.7 billion in FY16, to $18.5 billion in FY17 and $22.1 billion in FY18.

According to a 2018 Congressional Research Service report, MIP funds “defense intelligence activities intended to support operational and tactical level intelligence priorities supporting defense operations." Among other uses, these dollars can be spent to facilitate the dissemination of information that relates to a foreign country or political group, and covert or clandestine activities against political and military groups or individuals.

Part of the MIP funding went to U.S. Special Operations Command as it pursued “several current acquisition efforts focused on outfitting aircraft — both manned and unmanned, fixed and rotary wing — with advanced ISR and data storage capabilities that will work in multiple environments,” according to CRS.

In a two-paragraph statement announcing the FY19 number, the Pentagon noted that the funding “is aligned to support the National Defense Strategy.” That may be an indication that MIP was cut slightly as funds were redirected from the long-running conflicts in the Middle East toward other priorities meant to combat China and Russia.

It is possible the MIP will grow in the coming year, as the Pentagon had requested $22.95 billion for FY20.

More In Pentagon

How L3Harris is shoring up its small satellite supply chain

The president of L3Harris’ space systems sector, recently sat down with C4ISRNET to discuss the challenges of developing a diverse yet mature supply base.

From customer to sanctioned ‘proliferator,’ drones extend Iran’s reach

Iranian contractors and government officials have picked up on market demand, frequenting arms expos and other events in Russia, Iraq, Qatar and more.

How the Space Force is making its systems more resilient

A little-known board has been working over the last year to identify resiliency measures and ensure the systems the Space Force buys meet those standards.

Lack of standards slows allied tech-sharing, Space Force official says

While the issue is often raised by commercial firms, the official told the Defense Innovation Board it is also a challenge for international allies.

Ellis to succeed Rey as director of Army Network Cross-Functional Team

Brig. Gen. Patrick Ellis is expected to take over this summer.