Are Written Guidelines Needed To Establish New Agencies' Funding Needs?

GAO was asked to inquire into the need for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to publish guidelines for new Federal agencies to follow in preparing requests for initial or supplemental budgets to cover their first year of operation. The request was prompted by problems the Merit Systems Protection Board encountered when it began operation in fiscal 1979. The Board originally did not get enough funds to cover its operating costs for the year and experienced some difficulty in obtaining the needed funds.