Budget Authority

Authority provided by law to enter into obligations that will result in outlays of Federal funds. Budget authority may be classified by the period of availability (one-year, multiyear, no-year), by the timing of congressional action (current or permanent), or by the manner of determining the amount available (definite or indefinite).

Authority provided by law to enter into obligations, which generally result in immediate or future disbursements of Government funds. It may be classified by the period of availability, by the timing of congressional action or by the manner of determining the amount available. Also known as Obligational Authority.