THE NATURE OF DOD REPROGRAMMING AND ASSOCIATED TREND ANALYSIS

This paper began as an update to existing research completed in June 2007 that had provided baseline knowledge on the magnitude and frequency of reprogramming within the Department of Defense (DoD). The majority of in-depth analysis covered FY 2007 through FY 2018, producing findings similar to the previous study. The effects of DoD policy changes, military operations, and external forces impacting DoD budgeting and reprogramming from FY 2007 through FY 2018 were examined. After a comparative analysis of DoD appropriation categories, actions, and dollar amounts, and noting which services were more involved, it was surmised that the gradual decline in reprogramming dollars, requests, and actions, and the decrease in the ratio of reprogramming dollars to the entire DoD budget were most likely a result of the primarily land-based contingency operations of the time period (FY 2002 through FY 2014), rather than specific policies, operations, or external events. A comparative analysis of the pre-9/11 (FY 1999 through FY 2001) and post-conflict (FY 2015 through FY 2018) time periods showed reprogramming dollars have declined as a percentage of the DoD budget. Insight into Navy processing time for reprogramming requests revealed lengthy processing for prior approval (PA) requests, which may be causing delays in reprogramming submissions from the services, delaying DoD responsiveness.Lieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States NavyApproved for public release. distribution is unlimite