Funds will not necessarily be spent as outlays in the year in which they are initially provided. Statute, under the jurisdiction of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, that generally provides legal authority for federal agencies to incur obligations and to make payments out of Treasury for specified purposes.
Appropriation acts can be regular, supplemental, and continuing.
Normally a prerequisite for appropriations and may set specific limits on the amount that may be appropriated. Defines scope of program or agency, but does not make money available. For national defense programs and agencies, the authorizing committees are the House National Security and Senate Armed Services Committees. Congress makes available to an agency through authorizations and appropriations in a fiscal year. Legal authority for an agency to enter into obligations for the provision of goods and services.