Why is this information useful? I get the whistleblowing about the NSA spying on US citizens. I don't understand the purpose of exposing the US's intelligence b

Why is this information useful? I get the whistleblowing about the NSA spying on US citizens. I don't understand the purpose of exposing the US's intelligence budget. What is Snowden whistleblowing on by publishing this information? What does it add to the discussion about the government abusing its power or infringing upon civil liberties?