Problem
A HPSCI staffer receives an informal budget briefing halfway through the third quarter of the fiscal year. On the agenda is a new, relatively modest, but potentially high interest, multi-year long MIP project, exploiting captured materials. Its funding was originally included in the appropriated "no-year money" part of in an Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) supplemental to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act passed last autumn. However, during its initial OMB apportionment process it was immediately reported by USD/C through OMB to the HPSCOI staffer (as well as to the HASC and SASC staffs) that this specific project's funding would be transferred and would be managed as RDT&E appropriation category budget authority (BA) for in-the-field project development and evaluation of new capabilities for the immediate in support of front line forces.
However, now the project lead has shared a rumor that someone in the "management chain" may seek to have the project's budget authority (BA) recategorized as O&M, as part of current operations. She is concerned that this would present a problem? Is there an issue? If so, what advice can be offered to have it resolved,