The process operates in four distinct but overlapping phases, each led by different senior officials within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) :
Managed by the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) , this phase translates planning decisions into detailed five-year resource allocations. Each DoD component develops a Program Objective Memorandum (POM) to balance mission requirements within fiscal constraints . The process operates in four distinct but overlapping
The process is the Department of Defense's (DoD) primary framework for allocating financial resources . Established in the early 1960s by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, it serves to align national security objectives with the Department’s multi-billion dollar annual budget . The Four Phases of PPBE Established in the early 1960s by Secretary of
As of early 2026, the DoD is actively implementing major changes following the released in March 2024 . The Commission offered 28 recommendations to address long-standing issues like lack of agility and the slow pace of technology adoption . Led by the USD Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer ,
Led by the USD Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer , this phase focuses on the immediate upcoming fiscal year. Components submit a Budget Estimate Submission (BES) , which undergoes a technical review for pricing accuracy and legal compliance before being included in the President's Budget request to Congress .