The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) used to be one of the most secret organizations in the US government. For a long time, even their letterhead was classified. Since partially coming out of the black a few years ago, some pretty damning evidence of bungling has come to light. This US News & World Report article, if accurate, is damning. Lack of Intelligence:

The United States has invested $200 billion over the past four decades developing and operating its supersecret spy satellite programs. In this new age of terrorism, and as the nation faces bellicose regimes like North Korea and Iran, these programs are more important than ever. But there's a problem. The agency that builds and operates the satellites, a little-known outfit called the National Reconnaissance Office, is in crisis. Despite its $7 billion annual budget, its satellites don't always work as promised. Its projects run billions in the red and years behind schedule. Some national security experts say the place just doesn't work.

One problem, it seems, is a lack of qualified personnel and leverage in the Congressional oversight committees.

According to this article, the Air Force isn't doing much better. I knew about the problems with SBIRS-High (and even bigger problems with SBIRS-Low) but wasn't familiar with STSS.