Defense Secretary makes final pitch on FY25 military budget this week

by Tommy Grant

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown this week will make their fourth appearance of the spring on Capitol Hill to discuss the fiscal 2025 defense budget request, an annual cycle that this year has focused as much on Ukraine and Gaza as the future of the American military force.

House and Senate lawmakers have peppered the two Defense Department leaders with questions about American military operations in both regions. Although no U.S. troops are directly involved in the fighting, American military equipment is being used in both conflicts.

Austin’s pre-planned remarks at the previous three hearings have all been interrupted by protestors, but the distractions have changed little of his message pushing for continued U.S. support of Ukraine and Israel and the importance of the military’s humanitarian missions in Gaza.

This week’s appearance by Austin and Brown before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday is expected to be their last for a while, but that could change if U.S. involvement in either area is adjusted.

Tuesday, May 7

House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — 360 Cannon
Veteran Employment
Labor Department officials will testify on veterans employment efforts.

House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — 310 Cannon
Coast Guard Acquisitions
Service officials will testify on the current Coast Guard acquisition process.

House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — 2172 Rayburn
Brazil
Outside experts will testify on the state of democracy in Brazil.

House Education — 10:15 a.m. — 2175 Rayburn
Education Budget
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona will testify on the department’s upcoming needs and past financial audit problems.

House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — 2172 Rayburn
China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Outside experts will testify on Chinese international ambitions.

Wednesday, May 8

Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — 192 Dirksen
Defense Budget
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown will testify on the fiscal 2025 budget request.

Senate Appropriations — 2:30 p.m. — 124 Dirksen
CBO and GAO
Officials from the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office, and the Government Publishing Office will present their fiscal year 2025 budget request.

Senate Armed Services — 3 p.m. — G-50 Dirksen
Military Personnel Budget
Military personnel officials and service representatives will testify on the fiscal 2025 budget request.

Senate Armed Services — 4 p.m. — 232-A Russell
Air Force Modernization
Air Force leaders will testify on current modernization efforts and the fiscal 2025 budget request.

Senate Armed Services — 4:45 p.m. — 222 Russell
Missile Defense Activities
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Missile Defense John Hill will testify on current department missile defense activities.

Thursday, May 9

Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — 138 Dirksen
Labor Budget
Acting Labor Department Secretary Julie Su will testify on the fiscal 2024 budget request.

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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