Skip to Main Content
Ask CWU Libraries
CWU Libraries Home

U.S. Congress

Legislative body

U.S. Budget Appropriations

The annual U.S. Budget appropriations cycle begins when the President of the United States presents his budget, usually on or before the first Monday in February. It is important to note the fiscal year for the United States begins on October 1st and ends September 30th, different from most states and other organizations. Each executive agency submits justification materials to their respective appropriations subcommittees in Congress.

U.S. House Subcommittees: 

  1. Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  2. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  3. Defense
  4. Energy & Water Development, and Related Agencies
  5. Financial Services and General Government
  6. Homeland Security
  7. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  8. Labor, Health & Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  9. Legislative Branch
  10. Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
  11. State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies
  12. Transportation, and Housing & Urban Development, and Related Agencies

U.S. Senate Subcommittees: 

  1. Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  2. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  3. Defense
  4. Energy & Water Development 
  5. Financial Services and General Government
  6. Homeland Security
  7. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  8. Labor, Health & Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  9. Legislative Branch
  10. Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
  11. State, Foreign Operations, and  Related Agencies
  12. Transportation, Housing & Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Congress considers the President's budget through a concurrent resolution. Committee allocations are usually provided in a joint explanatory statement included in the conference report to the budget resolution.  The entire process usually ends by the August recess just prior to the fiscal year end of September 30th.   Explanation of the Appropriations process, the Congressional Research Service wrote several reports related to the cycle.  Some are: