---
title: "Budget Authority Definition | Model Diplomat"
description: "Budget authority is the legal power given by Congress to federal agencies for financial obligations, crucial for understanding U.S. appropriations law."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/budget-authority"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Budget authority is the legal power granted by the U.
- S.
- How does budget authority differ from outlays?
- What are the four types of budget authority?
- What law enforces limits on budget authority?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Budget authority is the legal power granted by the U.S. Congress to federal agencies to incur financial obligations that will result in immediate or future outlays of government funds.

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In the FY2019 lapse, Congress's failure to enact budget authority for nine departments triggered the 35-day government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019, the longest in U.S. history.

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