The State Security Department (VSD), Lithuania’s intelligence agency, says that the funding proposed for the department in the 2025 budget bill does not correspond to the needs of maintaining and developing its critical capabilities.
“The funding proposed for the VSD in the budget bill does not correspond to the national security situation of Lithuania and does not ensure the maintenance and development of critical intelligence capabilities, which require consistent and predictable funding,” the VSD said in comments sent to BNS.
According to the department, the VSD will, if necessary, present its arguments to the parliament committees reviewing the budget bill.
“This situation is not in line with the changing national security environment as Russia continues its military aggression in Ukraine and unconventional operations in Europe, including against Lithuania,” the VSD insisted.
According to the proposal, unveiled and endorsed by the government this week, the funding of VSD would increase by 2.5 million euros next year.
In total, the appropriations for the intelligence agency will amount to 53.021 million euros next year, compared to 50.521 million euros allocated in this year’s budget.
The budget projection for the next two years shows that the budget of the department will decrease significantly. It is estimated that the budget for the VSD will amount to 47.6 million euros in 2026 and to 47.8 million euros in 2027.
VSD Director Darius Jauniškis has said that the department is no longer able to carry out all the work to a high standard, and in particular unable to screen all the migrants coming to Lithuania, which, according to him, poses “very serious” counterintelligence and terrorism risks, thus the department needs additional funding.
Jauniškis said at the time that the department was asking to increase its budget by at least 15 million euros.
Approved by the cabinet on Wednesday, Lithuania’s state budget bill for 2025 will next be considered by the parliament, Seimas.
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