If I may step into their shoes... Simple answer would be, "to pay the bills". I'm sure the vast number of people working for government agencies (engaged in es

If I may step into their shoes... Simple answer would be, "to pay the bills". I'm sure the vast number of people working for government agencies (engaged in espionage or not) are simply there to stay fed, clothed and sheltered. The NSA, CIA, FBI etc... are all vast megaliths with intricate internal structures, bureaucracies and buttload of paperwork (digital and dead tree) that needs processing by humans. Humans that need jobs. That's it. They may feel some sense of patriotism in what they do, but I think most of them are just doing a job. It's the tobacco farmer syndrome.