The 2026 state budget draft, reviewed at a session of the Parliament’s Defense and Security Committee, proposes a significant funding increase for the State Security Service. According to the draft prepared by the Ministry of Finance, the budget of the State Security Service will rise by GEL 13.5 million next year, reaching GEL 265 million in total.
The increase is primarily attributed to higher payroll expenses. The document indicates that the State Security Service will employ 3,850 full-time staff in 2026, with GEL 152.6 million allocated for salaries, about GEL 14 million more than in the current year. The budget also earmarks GEL 25 million for foreign intelligence operations and GEL 50 million for the operational technical agency, while GEL 186 million will be distributed across other functions and programs of State Security Service.
Lawmakers noted that the rise in funding aligns with broader security sector priorities outlined in the draft budget. The government emphasizes the need to strengthen national intelligence, cyber defense, and counterintelligence capacities amid evolving regional and global security challenges.
In comparison, the draft budget sets the Ministry of Internal Affairs funding at GEL 1.47 billion, the Ministry of Defense at GEL 1.8 billion, and the State Special Protection Service at GEL 120.5 million, underscoring continued emphasis on Georgia’s defense and security infrastructure.
