Budgeting for Defense Means Supporting Warfighters in Real Time

Abstract

The culture of defense acquisition needs to change to enable and expect more real-time decision making about how capabilities are developed, funded and deployed. In the current system, years can elapse in the time it takes strategic planners to determine future needs and for funding to be directed to a government contract. Fortunately, a mechanism exists to respond to changing capability needs, and it works by empowering people to manage money at the working level. Reprogramming is the act of moving funds from one intended purpose to another.