Congress puts spy world on money diet

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

Next year’s budget doesn’t cancel any programs, but it shaves money off big-ticket items like the multi-billion-dollar spy satellites.

A budget bill passed recently but is classified, but it’s expected to stay in the same range as last year’s -- just under $79 billion. Spy agencies had asked for an increase.

Congress left alone plans for new hires in cybersecurity and counter-terror threat finance.

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 agents are killed by terrorists.