Black Budget
- therobotpanda
- Feb 21
- 1 min read
A black budget is a covert, classified government appropriation used for secret operations, military research, and intelligence, often hidden from public view and congressional oversight. Used primarily for national security, these undisclosed funds cover "black projects" such as surveillance, weaponry, and satellite technology. In the U.S., it can exceed US$50 billion annually, accounting for roughly 7 percent of the military budget.
Key Characteristics and Context:
Purpose: Funds operations that require high security or secrecy, often managed via "carve-out" contracts to hide the agencies involved.
Lack of Transparency: These budgets are often shielded from public scrutiny and sometimes even from members of Congress.
Scale: In the United States, the black budget has grown to rival, or exceed, major federal spending sectors like transportation or the environment.
Usage: It funds projects like advanced reconnaissance systems, intelligence gathering, and specialized military technology, with the CIA often dominating this funding.
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