Comments on NASA Budget Expenditures

GAO commented on the legality of the formula under which the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is operating and whether its expenditures are within the limitations of the joint resolution continuing appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 1964. GAO held that: (1) the rate of operations, as indicated by direct obligations of $1,107,150,000 incurred in the first four months of FY 1964 to be only slightly in excess of one-third of the total funds available for obligations during FY 1963; (2) GAO cannot say that this rate of operations would preclude the continuation of activities throughout FY 1964 within the appropriations of $3,095,039,000 which were available for FY 1963 operations; (3) the foregoing obligations relate only to the no-year appropriation research, development, and operations, since NASA is not obligating construction of facilities funds under Public Law 88-55; and (4) GAO advised that while, in its opinion, the formula adopted by NASA was not in accordance with the provisions of the continuing resolution, the reported direct obligations actually incurred during the first four months of FY 1964 appear to be within the limitation of the continuing resolution.