Once Congress provides program authorization and appropriations, the budget authority that comes with the appropriations must be executed (i.e., spent) to accomplish the purposes intended by Congress. DoD must efficiently execute its funding while complying with fiscal laws and rules established by Congress for redirecting funds for purposes other than those for which they were originally appropriated. DoD must also be cognizant of the "shelf-life" of its budget authority, ensuring that it is obligated and expended in a timely manner.
