The congressional defense budget process consists of three phases. Significantly the first phase is preparation of the yearly budget request which is done by the executive branch. Where spending is involved, the department of defense prepares the budget following guidelines established by the president ( Winfree, 2019 ). The budget request is forwarded to the congress by the white house office of management and budget on behalf of the president.
The second phase of the process is called the congressional consideration. The congress has the responsibility to analyze the budget against the need and appropriateness of the funding. This stage has three steps which include budget resolution, defense related bills and authorization bill. Essentially, the congress has the responsibility to appropriate funds in the annual appropriation acts to enable the financing of programs buy the department of defense ( Winfree, 2019 ). The authorization of funding by the congress is done through legislation primarily through the national defense authorization act which is done yearly.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Essentially, the authorization step is meant to establish structural procedure to enable funding and management of the funds. This procedure is done through the determination of organizations to be tasked with the role of defense ( Candreva, 2017 ). Setting policies to guide the organizations and determining limitations and conditions to control the activities to be carried out by the organization in charge of defense are also done as part of the process.
The final step in the process is the execution of budget. Through the authorization by the congress, the government is able to give the organization authority to put the funds in the budget into use. However, these agencies sending are only limited to the amount stipulated in the budget. Additionally, the agencies must spend the amount strictly for purposes outplayed in the budget. The anti-deficiency act restricts the organizations from spending amounts beyond what is authorized by the congress ( Winfree, 2019 ). The primary step in this phase is obligation which is basically signing of the budget authority given by the congress. Budget outlay occurs where the money mentioned in the authorized budget is released for use.
There are crucial tools that are used in the alteration of budget. One of the tools is supplemental appropriation which is a law to add funds to a budget that is approved but with heightened revenue ( Candreva, 2017 ). Building and contingency funds are crucial for fencing activities such as war that are not envisioned. Another tool is the deferral which involves delaying funds for the purpose of a crucial project to be carried out later in the year.
Significantly, the discretion-abuse-control-cycle is a process for controlling abuse by managing potential loopholes caused by lack of validation. This cycle occurs through reprogramming where changes are made to the budget to avoid abuse. The congress voting committees keep the organizations pin check to ensure that only activities authorized are executed ( Winfree, 2019 ). Additionally, an impoundment may be done as a loose way to ensure control of spending. The agency releasing the money delays the funds which in turn mean that the agency that should execute certain activities delays in doing so ( Candreva, 2017 ). This cycle leads to delayed use of funds or the failure to use funds. In most cases, impoundment occurs when there is likelihood that activities that are unplanned for will cause abuse of funds.
In conclusion, the congressional defense budget process involves three phases which are preparation, congressional consideration and execution. The budget may be altered using tools such as deferrals. On the other hand, discretion-abuse-control cycle is used in preventing abuse of funds.
Reference
Candreva, P. J. (2017). National Defense Budgeting and Financial Management: Policy & Practice . IAP.
Winfree, P. (2019). A History (and Future) of the Budget Process in the United States: Budget by Fire . Springer Nature.
