Secret research doesn't need to be diverted from bloated budgets of open programs. Classified programs are just a line item in appropriations bills with a code

Secret research doesn't need to be diverted from bloated budgets of open programs. Classified programs are just a line item in appropriations bills with a code name and no explanation of what it's for. Small oversight committees, rather than all of Congress and anyone with working Internet who can download the public budget, get to the see the budget details. The only reason to do something like you're suggesting is if you're trying to hide from the oversight committees, and the only reason to do that is if you're trying to do something illegal. In practice, historically when the US government wanted to do things that are illegal, think Iran Contra, they just relied on private funding to bypass Congress, not stealing from other line items. Or they just lied (e.g. sending troops into Cambodia but not admitting it).