The administration still treats a five-year war as an unforeseen contingency to be paid for by an extra, emergency appropriation outside its regular budget request.

ECONOMIST: Invading Iraq

We believe that a significant portion of the funding could be available if the appropriation Conferees were to moderate the high level of earmarks within the NASA budget.

WHITEHOUSE: Jacob J. Lew Testimony to House Science Committee, 08/06/1998 | The White House