Senate Republicans will try this week to finalize their draft of the budget reconciliation bill before heading into their July 4 break, but numerous legislative obstacles remain.
The measure includes a $150 billion boost in defense spending that White House officials have used in their calculations for military funding increases next fiscal year. If the reconciliation plan doesn’t pass, Pentagon planners would be left with essentially a flat budget from current fiscal year levels, and millions of dollars in questions about what programs to cut.
But the reconciliation measure also includes numerous controversial nondefense cuts that Senate Democrats have vowed to fight. The House version received no support from Democrats, and the Senate revisions are unlikely to pick up any votes from the minority party.
The reconciliation debate has slowed much of the rest of the annual defense budget and policy work on Capitol Hill this year. Neither the House nor Senate Armed Services Committees have yet revealed their initial drafts of the annual defense authorization bill, and the appropriations committees just this week offered their first spending plans for the Defense Department.
Tuesday, June 24
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich to be head of U.S. European Command and Vice Adm. Charles Cooper II to be head of U.S. Central Command.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 10:15 a.m. — 390 Cannon
Transition Programs
Department officials will testify on current military-to-civilian transition programs and areas in need of improvement.
House Administration — 10:30 a.m. — 1310 Longworth
Federal Voting Assistance Program
Defense officials will testify on the Federal Voting Assistance Program and issues with military voting overseas.
Senate Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — 192 Dirksen
Navy Budget
Navy Secretary John Phelan and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request.
Senate Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — 124 Dirksen
VA Budget
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 1:15 p.m. — 360 Cannon
Pending Legislation
The committee will consider several pending bills.
Wednesday, June 25
Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 232-A Russell
Defense Authorization
Installations officials will testify on the fiscal 2026 defense budget request.
Senate Veterans Affairs — 4 p.m. — 418 Russell
Veterans Crisis Line
Department officials will testify on challenges with the Veterans Crisis Line and current operations.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
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