Continuing Resolutions’ Impact on DOD

A continuing resolution (CR) is a type of temporary appropriation act that provides budget authority to keep federal agencies or specific activities in operation when a regular appropriation act has not been enacted by the beginning of the fiscal year. In all but 12 of the last 49 fiscal years, the Department of Defense (DOD) has had to carry out its critical national security mission while operating under a CR. DOD officials from the selected activities and programs that GAO reviewed reported facing delays, increased costs, operational challenges, spending challenges, and administrative burdens as a result of CRs.