Congress puts spy world on money diet (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Congress is putting the spy world on a diet by trimming back planned growth in staff and high-tech surveillance programs.

Next year's budget stays roughly the same as this year, at just under $80 billion, and the bill doesn't cancel any programs.

But the bill passed Friday nixes many planned new hires and denies extra funding requested to expand some existing big-ticket items like multibillion-dollar spy satellites. Congress left alone plans for more staff for cybersecurity and tracking terrorist finances.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss classified matters.

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 officers are killed by terrorists.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_go_co/us_intelligence_bill

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