WASHINGTON — Congress is putting the spy world on a diet — trimming back planned growth in staff and high-tech surveillance programs.
Next year's budget doesn't cancel any programs, but it shaves money off big-ticket items like the multibillion-dollar spy satellites.
A budget bill passed Friday is classified, but it's expected to stay in the same range as last year's — just under $79 billion. Spy agencies had asked for an increase.
Congress left alone plans for new hires in cybersecurity and counter-terror threat finance.
One change in the new measure: Families of intelligence officers will get the same financial help for burial expenses as those of uniformed military, if agents are killed by terrorists.
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