Order Code RS20151
Updated July 27, 2000
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
National Guard and Reserve Funding,
FY1990-2001
(name redacted)
Analyst in National Defense
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
This report provides data on trends in funding for the National Guard and Reserve
components of the U.S. Armed Forces from FY1990-FY2001. The percentage of
National Guard and Reserve (NG&R) funding has held fairly steady over this period at
7-8% of the Department of Defense (DOD) budget. The NG&R budgets range from a
high of $28.2 billion in FY1992 to a low of $22.7 billion in FY1997, as measured in
constant FY2001 dollars. Personnel end-strength for the NG&R has decreased from a
high of 1,154,570 service members in FY1991 to a low of 870,917 in FY1999. This is
a 33% decline over that period. This report will be updated as new data is available.
This report provides data on trends in funding for National Guard & Reserve
components and end-strength levels1 for Fiscal Years (FY) 1990-2000 and the budget
request for FY2001.2 The reserve components include the Army National Guard, Air
National Guard, Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Air Force
Reserve. The National Guard and Reserve units of the U.S. military have somewhat
different heritages. The National Guard descends from the British and colonial American
militia traditions, in which armed citizens would drill and be ready to defend their localities
and homes. The National Guard is thus a dual state-federal force, functioning both as the
militia of the states under the control of state authorities and as a federal military reserve
force. In contrast, the Reserves of each service are purely federal forces, created in the
20th century.
1 End-strength level is defined as number of military personnel on duty as of the last day of the
fiscal year (September 30th).
2 FY2000 data in Tables 1-3 represent a DOD estimate and include Administration-proposed
supplemental appropriations and rescissions. The FY2001 data in Table 1 represents the
Administration's February 2000 request and does not include changes due to congressional action.
FY1990-1999 data in Tables 1-3 represent actual figures.
Congressional Research Service ˜
The Library of Congress
CRS-2
Trends
In recent years, Congress has perennially debated whether the Pentagon adequately
funds Guard and Reserve components. Each year in the 1990s, Congress has added
money to the Pentagon's Guard and Reserve budget.
Table 1 shows National Guard and
Reserve funding for FY1990-2000 and the FY2001 budget request, by appropriations title.
Appropriations titles are the most general category in the annual DOD appropriations bills
approved by Congress. The major titles for National Guard and Reserve funding are
military personnel, operation and maintenance (O&M), procurement, and military
construction. The last column of
Table 1 shows end-strength levels for FY1990-1999.
Personnel end-strength for the NG&R has decreased from a high of 1,154,570 service
members in FY1991 to a low of 870,917 in FY1999. This is a 33% decline over that
period.
New equipment for National Guard and Reserve forces is normally procured in
regular appropriations procurement accounts for each of the services. This account
category is shown in Table 1 as the "Service Procurement Accounts." In addition,
Congress has sometimes set aside funds in a separate NG&R procurement account for
additional equipment not requested by DOD in the active service accounts.3 This account
category is shown in Table 1 as "NG&R Procurement." It is important to remember that
most Guard and Reserve equipment is funded in the active component accounts. The
NG&R procurement account is for additional equipment over and above equipment in the
active component accounts.
Table 1 shows National Guard and Reserve funding in budget authority 4 in current
year dollars.
Tables 2 and 3 show the same data for FY1990-2000 by appropriations title
and component (respectively) in constant FY2001 dollars. Constant dollars measure the
cost of goods and services in terms of prices in a given (constant) year. Fixing the
purchasing power of the dollar to a given year eliminates changes in prices due to inflation
in comparing budgets from year to year.
As
Figures 1 and 2 show, measured in constant FY2001 dollars, National Guard and
Reserve (NG&R) funding has held relatively steady as a percentage of the DOD budget
from FY1990-1999. The total has varied between 7-8% of the Department of Defense
(DOD) budget and ranges from a high of $28.2 billion in FY1992 to a low of $22.7 billion
in FY1997, as measured in constant FY2001 dollars.
3 The NG&R procurement account is not the only, or even the primary source for Guard and
Reserve equipment. Guard and Reserve units get "cascaded" used equipment from the Active
Forces, which are not accounted for in these totals.
4 Budget authority (BA) is the authority provided by Congress via law to the DOD to enter into
obligations for the provision of goods and services. Current dollars are the dollar value of goods
and services in terms of prices current at the time of purchase.
CRS-3
Table 1: National Guard & Reserve Funding by Appropriations Title
and End-Strength Levels, FY1990-2000
(budget authority in millions of current year dollars)
Service
Military Operation &
NG&R
Military
End-
Procurement
Total
Personnel Maintenance Procurement
Construction1
Strength2
Accounts
FY1990
Army National Guard
3,297.0
1,868.0
331.8
1,916.2
230.0
7,643.0
444,224
Air National Guard
1,067.0
2,030.0
238.7
906.9
236.0
4,478.6
117,786
Army Reserve
2,204.0
872.0
88.9
577.8
99.0
3,841.7
310,071
Naval Reserve
1,572.0
923.0
148.8
246.5
54.0
2,944.3
152,789
Marine Reserve
314.0
78.0
118.6
40.9
NA
551.5
44,530
Air Force Reserve
663.0
1,020.0
64.0
234.6
46.0
2,027.6
83,813
Total
9,117.0
6,791.0
990.8
3,922.9
665.0
21,486.7 1,153,213
FY1991
Army National Guard
3,320.0
2,026.0
805.7
860.2
313.0
7,324.9
446,121
Air National Guard
1,106.0
2,327.0
647.5
426.5
181.0
4,688.0
117,786
Army Reserve
2,243.0
946.0
71.1
224.5
77.0
3,561.6
309,681
Naval Reserve
1,620.0
1,022.0
658.8
301.4
80.0
3,682.2
151,510
Marine Reserve
291.0
85.0
160.0
42.6
NA
578.6
44,933
Air Force Reserve
629.0
1,086.0
155.1
126.2
39.0
2,035.3
84,539
Total
9,209.0
7,492.0
2,498.2
1,981.4
690.0
21,870.6 1,154,570
FY1992
Army National Guard
3,734.0
2,382.0
344.2
626.2
246.0
7,332.4
426,528
Air National Guard
1,286.0
2,532.0
558.0
501.9
236.0
5,113.9
119,083
Army Reserve
2,516.0
1,099.0
103.7
196.4
117.0
4,032.1
302,850
Naval Reserve
1,864.0
941.0
383.9
114.6
53.0
3,356.5
142,314
Marine Reserve
380.0
101.0
158.0
32.6
NA
671.6
42,256
Air Force Reserve
797.0
1,255.0
362.0
151.8
11.0
2,576.8
81,874
Total
10,577.0
8,310.0
1,909.8
1,623.5
663.0
23,083.3 1,114,905
FY1993
Army National Guard
3,466.0
2,418.0
399.2
686.0
227.0
7,196.2
409,919
Air National Guard
1,244.0
2,667.0
413.8
518.5
323.0
5,166.3
117,162
Army Reserve
2,255.0
1,083.0
32.2
131.5
45.0
3,546.7
275,900
Naval Reserve
1,709.0
910.0
131.2
115.6
16.0
2,881.8
132,395
Marine Reserve
358.0
84.0
205.0
19.5
NA
666.5
41,738
Air Force Reserve
732.0
1,283.0
125.0
54.4
32.0
2,226.4
80,562
Total
9,764.0
8,445.0
1,306.4
1,525.5
643.0
21,683.9 1,057,676
FY1994
Army National Guard
3,449.0
2,236.0
193.4
979.4
295.0
7,152.8
396,928
Air National Guard
1,259.0
2,665.0
339.9
256.8
241.0
4,761.7
113,587
Army Reserve
2,155.0
1,073.0
126.3
424.0
99.0
3,877.3
259,856
Naval Reserve
1,594.0
761.0
146.7
62.8
24.0
2,588.5
107,627
Marine Reserve
347.0
91.0
120.3
30.2
NA
588.5
40,711
Air Force Reserve
788.0
1,363.0
241.7
96.3
73.0
2,562.0
79,621
Total
9,592.0
8,189.0
1,168.3
1,849.5
732.0
21,530.8
998,330
FY1995
Army National Guard
3,462.0
2,442.0
120.9
594.4
189.0
6,808.3
374,930
Air National Guard
1,280.0
2,782.0
245.0
187.1
249.0
4,743.1
109,825
Army Reserve
2,177.0
1,240.0
133.0
149.0
56.0
3,755.0
241,300
Naval Reserve
1,415.0
848.0
107.9
72.6
(2.0)
2,441.5
100,597
Marine Reserve
353.0
85.0
75.7
44.4
NA
558.1
40,933
Air Force Reserve
777.0
1,473.0
90.9
55.2
57.0
2,453.1
78,267
Total
9,464.0
8,870.0
773.4
1,102.7
549.0
20,759.1
945,852
CRS-4
Service
Military Operation &
NG&R
Military
End-
Procurement
Total
Personnel Maintenance Procurement
Construction1
Strength2
Accounts
FY1996
Army National Guard
3,353.0
2,448.0
100.9
780.2
137.0
6,819.1
369,975
Air National Guard
1,313.0
2,774.0
260.4
296.9
165.0
4,809.3
110,484
Army Reserve
2,129.0
1,118.0
90.0
190.5
73.0
3,600.5
226,211
Naval Reserve
1,385.0
839.0
40.0
16.5
19.0
2,299.5
97,956
Marine Reserve
385.0
103.0
100.0
59.4
NA
647.4
42,077
Air Force Reserve
790.0
1,517.0
176.2
181.7
36.0
2,700.9
73,668
Total
9,355.0
8,799.0
767.5
1,525.2
430.0
20,876.7
920,371
FY1997
Army National Guard
3,405.0
2,298.0
100.8
859.0
78.0
6,740.8
370,044
Air National Guard
1,348.0
2,742.0
224.3
286.9
185.0
4,786.2
110,022
Army Reserve
2,060.0
1,141.0
113.7
91.3
56.0
3,462.0
212,850
Naval Reserve
1,420.0
890.0
199.7
29.5
38.0
2,577.2
95,317
Marine Reserve
394.0
110.0
102.8
29.0
NA
635.8
41,997
Air Force Reserve
787.0
1,505.0
39.6
130.4
53.0
2,515.0
71,986
NG&RE, Other
3.7
3.7
Total
9,414.0
8,686.0
784.6
1,426.1
410.0
20,720.7
902,216
FY1998
Army National Guard
3,459.0
2,447.0
68.8
524.0
122.1
6,620.8
362,444
Air National Guard
1,382.9
3,081.8
302.9
318.6
190.4
5,276.7
108,096
Army Reserve
2,040.0
1,211.1
73.7
84.4
74.2
3,483.3
204,968
Naval Reserve
1,394.0
924.0
78.7
76.2
47.3
2,520.2
93,171
Marine Reserve
394.7
116.4
73.7
26.2
611.1
40,842
Air Force Reserve
802.9
1,653.3
49.2
262.3
30.2
2,797.9
71,970
Defense-wide
10.0
10.0
Total
9,473.5
9,433.6
647.0
1,301.7
464.2
21,320.0
881,491
FY1999
Army National Guard
3,636.2
2,805.6
20.0
1,017.1
151.3
7,630.2
357,469
Air National Guard
1,452.0
3,216.1
212.0
355.6
185.7
5,421.4
105,715
Army Reserve
2,182.9
1,258.5
20.0
143.4
102.1
3,706.9
206,836
Naval Reserve
1,450.6
982.0
60.0
107.0
31.6
2,631.2
89,172
Marine Reserve
401.3
127.0
20.0
548.3
39,953
Air Force Reserve
856.7
1,790.2
20.0
199.4
34.4
2,900.7
71,772
Total
9,979.7
10,179.4
352.0
1,822.5
505.1
22,838.7
870,917
FY2000 (Est.)
Army National Guard
3,605.2
3145
29.8
951.4
236.2
7,967.6
Air National Guard
1,529.0
3224.3
29.8
560.8
262.4
5,606.3
Army Reserve
2,292.0
1461.6
29.8
222.6
110.8
4,116.8
Naval Reserve
1,473.4
954.0
19.9
204.8
28.3
2,680.4
Marine Reserve
412.7
138.2
19.9
570.8
Air Force Reserve
892.6
1,773.3
19.9
190.2
64.1
2,940.1
Total
10,204.9
10,696.4
149.1
2,129.8
701.8
23,882.0
FY2001 (Request)
Army National Guard
3,747.6
3182.3
1,049.5
59.1
8,038.5
Air National Guard
1,627.2
3446.4
362.3
50.2
5,486.1
Army Reserve
2,433.9
1,521.4
182.7
81.7
4,219.7
Naval Reserve
1,528.4
960.9
91.7
16.1
2,597.1
Marine Reserve
436.4
134.0
570.4
Air Force Reserve
981.7
1,885.9
142.9
14.9
3,025.4
CRS-5
Service
Military Operation &
NG&R
Military
End-
Procurement
Total
Personnel Maintenance Procurement
Construction1
Strength2
Accounts
Total
10,755.2
11,130.9
1,829.1
222.0
23,937.2
Sources: Military personnel, operation & maintenance, and military construction data from DOD Comptroller,
National Defense Budget Estimates, various years; procurement data from DOD
Procurement Programs (P1-R),
various years; end-strength data from Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs).
Notes: NA = not available. Totals may not add due to rounding errors.
1. Marine Corps Reserve military construction included in Naval Reserve figures.
2. End-strength level is defined as number of military personnel on duty as of the last day of the fiscal year
(September 30th).
Table 2: National Guard and Reserve Funding by Appropriations Title:
Fiscal Years 1990-2000
(budget authority in millions of constant FY2001 dollars)
Service
NGR
NG&R
Military
Procure-
Military
NGR
DOD
% of
FY
O&M
Procure-
Personnel
ment
Constr.
Total
Total
DOD
ment
Accounts
Total
1990
11,903.6
8,866.7
1,293.6
5,121.9
868.3
28,054.2
379,900
7.38%
1991
11,519.9
9,372.0
3,125.1
2,478.6
863.1
27,358.8
354,700
7.71%
1992
12,957.2
10,180.1
2,339.6
1,988.9
812.2
28,278.0
336,600
8.40%
1993
11,626.6
10,056.0
1,555.6
1,816.5
765.7
25,820.3
318,200
8.11%
1994
11,171.7
9,537.6
1,360.7
2,154.1
852.6
25,076.6
292,800
8.56%
1995
10,807.4
10,129.0
883.2
1,259.2
626.9
23,705.7
291,900
8.12%
1996
10,460.7
9,839.0
858.2
1,705.5
480.8
23,344.2
284,500
8.21%
1997
10,305.4
9,508.5
858.9
1,561.1
448.8
22,682.8
282,400
8.03%
1998
10,157.0
10,114.2
693.7
1,395.6
497.7
22,858.3
277,200
8.25%
1999
10,487.3
10,697.1
369.9
1,915.2
530.8
24,000.3
292,600
8.20%
2000
10,494.5
11,000.0
153.3
2,190.3
721.7
24,559.9
287,900
8.53%
Notes: Totals may not add due to rounding errors. CRS calculations based on deflators from the DOD Comptroller.
Table 3: National Guard and Reserve Funding by Component
Fiscal Years 1990-2000
(budget authority in millions of constant FY2001 dollars)
Army
Air
Marine
Air
Army
Naval
FY
Nat'l
Nat'l
Corps
Force
Total
Res.
Res.
Guard
Guard
Res.
Res.
1990
9,979.1
5,847.5
5,015.9
3,844.2
720.1
2,647.3
28,054.2
1991
9,163.0
5,864.4
4,455.3
4,606.2
723.8
2,546.0
27,358.8
1992
8,982.5
6,264.7
4,939.5
4,111.8
822.7
3,156.7
28,278.0
1993
8,568.9
6,151.8
4,223.3
3,431.5
793.6
2,651.1
25,820.3
1994
8,330.8
5,545.9
4,515.8
3,014.8
685.4
2,983.9
25,076.6
1995
7,774.7
5,416.4
4,288.0
2,788.1
637.3
2,801.3
23,705.7
1996
7,625.1
5,377.7
4,026.1
2,571.3
723.9
3,020.1
23,344.2
1997
7,379.1
5,239.4
3,789.8
2,821.2
696.0
2,753.1
22,682.8
1998
7,098.6
5,657.4
3,734.6
2,702.1
655.2
2,999.8
22,858.3
1999
8,018.3
5,697.1
3,895.4
2,765.0
576.2
3,048.2
24,000.3
2000
8,193.7
5,765.4
4,233.6
2,756.5
587.0
3,023.5
24,559.9
Notes: Totals may not add due to rounding errors. CRS calculations based on deflators from DOD
Comptroller.
CRS-6
Figure 1. National Guard And Reserve Funding by
Appropriations Title
(budget authority in constant FY2001 dollars)
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
Constant FY01 $ in Millions 5,000
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Fiscal Year
Mil Pers
O&M
NG&R Proc.
Service Proc
Figure 2. National Guard and Reserve Funding by Component
(budget authority in constant FY2001 dollars)
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
Constant FY01 $ in millions
5000
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Fiscal Year
ARNG
ANR
USAR
USNR
USMCR
USAFR
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