Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard outline FY26 budget needs this week
Congressional budget hearings continue this week with a focus from appropriators on the military's operations at sea.
On Wednesday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee's defense panel will discuss force needs and challenges with the heads of the Navy and Marine Corps. At the same time, Acting Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunda will testify before a separate subcommittee on his service's operations.
Both sets of testimony come as lawmakers craft their response to President Donald Trump's budget plan for fiscal 2026. That outline calls for roughly $1 trillion in defense spending, but more than $100 billion of the total would come from one-time funds provided through the reconciliation process.
Defense hawks in Congress have said at least some of that spending should be shifted permanently into the overall military budget, providing a larger increase for the services' programming. But Democratic lawmakers have already voiced concerns about steep cuts to non-defense programs accompanying any defense spending hike.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several nominations, including Richard Anderson to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen East Africa Outside experts will testify on the security situation in east Africa. Senate Armed Services — 4:45 p.m. — 232-A Russell Missile Defense Activities Gen. Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command, and Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, director of the Missile Defense Agency, will testify on military missile defense programs.
House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — 310 Cannon Homeland Security Budget Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Veterans' Affairs — 10:15 a.m. — 360 Cannon Compensation/Pension Program Department officials will testify on improper payments in VA's compensation and pension benefits programs. House Appropriations — 2 p.m. — Capitol H-140 Navy/Marine Corps Budget Navy Secretary John Phelan, Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Appropriations — 2 p.m. — 2008 Rayburn Coast Guard Budget Acting Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 3 p.m. — 2218 Rayburn Military Installations Robert Thompson, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Installations, and other defense officials will testify on current challenges facing the force. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2212 Rayburn National Security Space Programs Department officials will testify on national security space programs.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Foreign Military Sales Outside experts will testify on Department of Defense responsibilities related to foreign military sales. House Appropriations — 10 a.m. — 2359 Rayburn VA Budget VA Secretary Doug Collins will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. Senate Foreign Relations — 10:30 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations. House Veterans' Affairs — 2 p.m. — 360 Cannon VA Budget Request Senior department officials will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 3 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Defense Intelligence Posture Department officials will testify on the current national defense intelligence posture.
House Armed Services — 9 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn Cyber Posture Laurie Buckhout, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, and Lt. Gen. William Hartman, acting head of U.S. Cyber Command, will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request.
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