Pentagon chief eyes trimming intelligence spending as part of post-9/11 review

Defense intelligence agencies to tighten belt

WASHINGTON — Defense intelligence agencies are trying to figure out how to cut 10 percent of their contractors as part of Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ Pentagon-wide drive to reduce costs.

Defense officials are telling staffers on Capitol Hill that they expect a similar review “for the broader intelligence community.” That’s according to a congressional staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the private briefing.

White House officials from the Obama and the Bush administration had been trying to get rampant spending on contractors under control after the post-9/11 surge to hire contractors to meet the demands of the war against terror.