Which component is essential for the development of budget estimates submitted to Congress?

The program objective memorandum (POM) is essential for the development of budget estimates submitted to Congress as it serves as a critical document that outlines the resource requirements for various military programs over a specific time frame, typically covering a five to six-year period. The POM reflects the priorities set by each military service and aligns with the strategic goals outlined in the National Defense Strategy.

Through the POM, military services identify their funding needs, justify their requests for resources, and detail how they intend to allocate available funds to meet operational and strategic objectives. It integrates multiple factors, including policy guidance, strategic requirements, and fiscal constraints. The POM is used as a baseline for requesting funds and helps ensure that the Defense Department can articulate and defend its budget proposals to Congress effectively.

In contrast, while other options such as the Future Years Defense Program and the Annual Defense Budget are important parts of the budgetary process, they are more reliant on the foundational work presented in the POM. Fiscal guidance plays a role in directing budget priorities but does not contain the same level of detail regarding programmatic needs and justifications presented to Congress.