Military Operations: Precedents for Funding Contingency Operations in Regular or in Supplemental Appropriations Bills

Publication Date: June 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: International relations; Military and defense

Type:

Abstract:

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress has appropriated $331 billion for military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. Of that amount, $301 billion, or 91%, has been provided either in supplemental appropriations bills or as additional "emergency" funding in separate titles of annual defense appropriations acts. A recurring issue in Congress has been whether funding for ongoing military operations -- such as those in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere -- should be provided in supplemental appropriations bills and in additional "emergency" accounts, or should instead be considered as part of regular annual defense budget requests.

This report briefly reviews the main precedents, including funding for the Korean conflict, the Vietnam conflict, the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991, and various smaller military contingency operations in the 1990s. It will be updated as events warrant.