That's $700,000 per staff member. Sure, they have to buy equipment, but the stuff they'd buy wouldn't cost much.
Having worked around the Pentagon for a couple of years, I will offer this observation about funds, spending, and putting together a new ‘operation’.
First, there’s the vault itself. If it doesn’t meet security spec’s....there’s a minimum of half-a-million to be spent to enhance it. If there are special communication lines needed, you can figure at least a million. Putting in more racks of computer hardware, you will need more air conditioning. Old carpet? That’s going to cost you at least $100,000 for the new stuff.
Then you come to secure-phones, multi-media rooms, presentation systems. You can figure around $2 million to $3 million spent to fix up your big meeting room....with a fancy table, $1000 chairs, and proper paintings on the wall.
The big guy, the SES running this, will need a fancy office. Figure at least $100,000 on his furniture and requirements.