The Word: Anomaly

Definition: A mechanism for providing funding or other changes for a program that would otherwise not receive funding or continue in its current form under a continuing resolution (CR). Anomalies, which are typically only granted in special circumstances, can be used to adjust funding levels for specific programs in a CR to be higher or lower than the previous year’s funding level.

Used In A Sentence: “Anomalies typically are included to prevent what some or all stakeholders and parties to CR negotiations perceive as major programmatic, operational, or management problems that would be caused if an otherwise ‘cookie cutter’ approach were used to provide funding at a uniform rate and with uniform restrictions.” From “Interim Continuing Resolutions (CRs): Potential Impacts on Agency Operations,” Clinton T. Brass, Congressional Research Service, March 16, 2010.

Why It’s Relevant: As the end of fiscal year (FY) 2013 nears, it is looking likely that a CR will be needed at least for part of FY 2014. In preparation for a CR, last week the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent their list of anomalies to Capitol Hill.