Reasons for Funding Selected Entitlements Programs by Other Than 1-Year Appropriations

Three Department of Agriculture (USDA) accounts are funded by no-year appropriations: the Food Stamp Program, Child Nutrition Programs, and the Special Supplemental Food Program. The USDA position is that no-year appropriations for programs funded by these accounts are necessary to maintain program flexibility and that changing to 1-year accounts would not provide Congress with any additional control over spending. In addition, if funds for these programs were allowed to lapse, USDA would be open to lawsuits.