Today's Article
U.S. taxpayers paid
nearly $10 billion last
year to be kept
ignorant of what
federal officials and
private business
people did in our
name.
nearly $10 billion last
year to be kept
ignorant of what
federal officials and
private business
people did in our
name.
The American Spark
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Secrecy Costs Hit Record High In 2009
By Cliff Montgomery - July 30th, 2010
Federal officials in 2009 charged taxpayers a record $9.93 billion to pay for the classification of activities
performed by both government and industry, according to a federal study released in June.
Said more boldly, U.S. taxpayers paid nearly $10 billion last year to be kept ignorant of what federal officials
and private business people did in our name.
This record-high cost of secrecy entailed the charges incurred from protecting classified data in both industry
and government, according to the study released by the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO).
Classification-related activities include more than the mere act of classification. They also entail all actions
necessary to ensure secrecy: Guards and systems to provide a physical security for the classified data, a
security clearance network for employee oversight, computer security for secret digital information, and so
forth. All of that produces a hefty price tag.
"The agencies also reported a modest, but welcome increase in spending on declassification programs,"
declared ISOO Director William Bosanko in a transmittal letter to President Obama.
The American Spark must point out that 2009's official cost of classification did not include the secrecy
charges racked up by either the CIA or the massive Defense Department intel agencies.
These most secretive of U.S. intelligence agencies declare that the very cost of their secrecy is classified.
Such a fact clearly limits the authority of the ISOO's report on the total cost of American secrecy. Still, this
study may provide firm evidence that more government activities are being kept from the U.S. citizen than ever
before.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - July 30th, 2010
Federal officials in 2009 charged taxpayers a record $9.93 billion to pay for the classification of activities
performed by both government and industry, according to a federal study released in June.
Said more boldly, U.S. taxpayers paid nearly $10 billion last year to be kept ignorant of what federal officials
and private business people did in our name.
This record-high cost of secrecy entailed the charges incurred from protecting classified data in both industry
and government, according to the study released by the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO).
Classification-related activities include more than the mere act of classification. They also entail all actions
necessary to ensure secrecy: Guards and systems to provide a physical security for the classified data, a
security clearance network for employee oversight, computer security for secret digital information, and so
forth. All of that produces a hefty price tag.
"The agencies also reported a modest, but welcome increase in spending on declassification programs,"
declared ISOO Director William Bosanko in a transmittal letter to President Obama.
The American Spark must point out that 2009's official cost of classification did not include the secrecy
charges racked up by either the CIA or the massive Defense Department intel agencies.
These most secretive of U.S. intelligence agencies declare that the very cost of their secrecy is classified.
Such a fact clearly limits the authority of the ISOO's report on the total cost of American secrecy. Still, this
study may provide firm evidence that more government activities are being kept from the U.S. citizen than ever
before.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
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