[1][2] The total spending authorized by the bill is classified, but estimates based on intelligence leaks made by Edward Snowden indicate that the budget could be approximately $50 billion.

[2] The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 would authorize FY2014-FY2015 appropriations for the conduct of intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the: (1) Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI); (2) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); (3) United States Department of Defense (DOD); (4) Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA); (5) National Security Agency (NSA); (6) Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; (7) Coast Guard; (8) Departments of State, the Treasury, Energy (DOE), and Justice (DOJ); (9) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); (10) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); (11) National Reconnaissance Office; (12) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and (13) United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

[2] The bill would require the DNI to establish guidelines to govern the treatment under such authorized personnel levels of employment or assignment in: (1) a student or trainee program; (2) a reserve corps or as a reemployed annuitant; or (3) details, joint duty, or long term, full-time training.

[2] An amendment to the bill in December added Section 309, which statutorily authorized the retention of communications involving United States person for a period of five years with various exemptions the Electronic Frontier Foundation criticized as "massive loopholes" in the law.

[6][7] A petition to call for president Obama veto the bill on grounds of unconstitutionality was created, and is due to complete on January 10, 2015.

Because CBO anticipates that the bill would be enacted near the start of fiscal year 2015, we estimate that this provision would not affect spending in 2014.

Section 201 would authorize the appropriation of $514 million for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System for both fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (CIARDS).

[8] The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 was introduced into the United States House of Representatives on May 20, 2014, by Rep. Mike Rogers (R, MI-8).

[9][7] According to news website TechCrunch, Reps. Justin Amash, Zoe Lofgren, and Jared Polis, three "voices usually associated with stronger takes on needed reform of the intelligence organs of the United States" all voted against the bill.

[3] Alex Wilhelm described the passage of the bill as being part of a "somewhat dispiriting period for those in favor of reformation of the National Security Agency and its ilk.

"[3] Rep. Mike Rogers, who sponsored the bill, argued that the controversies as a result of the global surveillance disclosures had left Americans with the wrong impression of intelligence activities.