U.S. Spy Agencies Bloated, Panel Finds

Burdened by a bloated and expensive work force, the National Security Agency and other U.S. intelligence services must make deeper cuts in personnel and invest in new technology or their mission could be “seriously jeopardized,” a federal commission said Friday.

NSA, which eavesdrops on foreign communications; the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency have been ordered by Congress to reduce their civilian personnel 24% by the year 2001.

But the commission headed by former Defense Secretary Harold Brown said a reduction of at least another 10%--5,000 to 6,000 employees--is needed. Brown said the intelligence agencies need to be realigned to deal with more diverse threats, ranging from terrorists to drug traffickers.

Too much money is being spent on an older work force with higher salaries and benefits, the commission found.