Clapper says shutdown damaging US spies' ability to guard against threats

WASHINGTON – U.S. intelligence officials say the government shutdown is seriously damaging the intelligence community's ability to guard against threats. But they also say they're keeping counterterrorism staff on duty, while they are worried about morale.

Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper told Congress Wednesday that roughly 70 percent of the intelligence workforce — including staff from the CIA, National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency — have been furloughed.

Clapper says he has tried to keep on enough employees to guard against potential threats, but may have to call more back to work if the shutdown continues.

NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander says he has kept on employees working on counterterrorism, but that the shutdown has had a huge impact on morale. The total number of employees at such agencies is classified.