The Congressional leaders interpret this move as an attack on their power of the purse, but the Administration asserts that it is merely rechanneling funds already authorized for peacekeeping in the former Yugoslavia.

Nicholas Burns, the State Department spokesman, said American aid to the force of British, French, Dutch and Belgian soldiers would ultimately reach $95 million, including $60 million worth of equipment and logistical, airlift and intelligence support. He said the rest of the aid would be in the form of $35 million in cash to the force. The $60 million would come from the Pentagon funds, while the source of the remainder has not been determined.

"We're going to go ahead with this despite the letter," Mr. Burns said. "We cannot leave our allies in the lurch. This is the right strategic choice."

In their letter, Mr. Dole and Mr. Gingrich said the President's move "to circumvent the will of Congress is likely to lead to restriction" of the Administration's budgetary flexibility in the future.

They also criticized the President for allowing American aircraft to provide close air support to the new reaction force when United Nations officials have opposed recent calls from NATO for permission to bomb Bosnian Serb sites.