Which criterion is part of the necessary expense test?

• A. Must logically tie to mission
• B. Must be profitable
• C. Must be approved by the president
• D. Must be provided for in another appropriation

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that a cost must be essential to what the agency is trying to accomplish. In other words, a necessary expense has to have a clear and logical link to the mission or purpose of the program. When an item directly supports delivering a program, achieving a statutory goal, or meeting a core obligation, it passes the test because it advances the mission.

That’s why this criterion is the best answer: tying the expense to the mission shows it’s necessary for fulfilling the agency’s purpose, not just a discretionary or unrelated cost. For example, funding a data analytics tool to improve program outcomes clearly supports the mission, whereas expenses that don’t advance those outcomes would not meet the test.

The other options don’t fit because they aren’t about whether the cost actually serves the mission. Profitability isn’t a concern for government spending, since many necessary costs don’t generate profit. Presidential approval isn’t required for every line item—budget moves typically flow through Congress and proper delegations. And whether something is provided for in another appropriation deals with funding sources, not the fundamental check of whether the expense is necessary to achieve the mission.