NASA Budget: Carryover Balances in Selected Programs

GAO discussed the extent of carryover budget balances for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Mission to Planet Earth program and other NASA programs. GAO noted that: (1) certain NASA program appropriations are available for obligation over a 2-year period; (2) carryover balances in these program areas totalled $3.6 billion by the end of fiscal year (FY) 1995; (3) NASA estimated that $654 million in total budget authority from these programs would be carried over from FY 1996; (4) NASA expects $631 million in program funding to be carried over in FY 1998; (5) large carryover balances are due in part to NASA banking its budget authority to cover costs incurred in later years; (6) NASA and its chief financial officer have recommended actions to reduce carryover balances that exceed certain thresholds; and (7) carryover balances should be examined over time to better determine the thresholds for individual programs.