War funding battle could rage into next year.

• Author: Harper, Jon
• Position: Budget Matters

The controversy surrounding overseas contingency operations funds has pitted the White House, Senate and House of Representatives against one another. The political battle over OCO accounts might not be resolved until the next administration takes office in 2017, a leading budget analyst said.

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The House version of the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act diverted $ 18 billion in war funds for base budget projects such as readiness, higher force levels and additional weapons procurement.

To adhere to spending levels agreed to during a previous budget deal, the legislation would only fund ongoing war efforts in Afghanistan and elsewhere for seven months. Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee appear to be banking on the assumption that the next president and Congress would be compelled to pass supplemental war funding next spring.

"The legislation seeks to ensure that we do not deploy troops who are not fully trained, whose equipment is worn out and who did not get the resources they needed back home to be ready to face our enemies overseas," HASC Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said in a press release after the full House passed its version of the NDAA in May.

The Obama administration has threatened to veto any NDAA passed by Congress if it includes the House OCO provision.

"By gambling with warfighting funds, the bill risks the safety of our men and women fighting to keep America safe, undercuts stable planning and efficient use of taxpayer dollars, [and] dispirits troops and their families," the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the veto threat is credible, noting that President Barack Obama previously vetoed an NDAA over a disagreement with Congress about OCO funding.

"I don't think this scheme will likely get through and get signed into law by this administration," he said. "But this administration will be gone on Jan. 20."

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