FY2026 for United States covers October 2025 through September 2026. The first quarter (FM1–FM3) is the budget activation window; the second quarter (FM4–FM6) is the first reforecast cycle; the third quarter (FM7–FM9) is the target-defence quarter; and the fourth (FM10–FM12) is the close-and-handoff quarter when audit walkthroughs begin and the FY2027 budget is finalised in parallel with the FY2026 close.