Hegseth returns to Capitol Hill to defend Trump's defense budget plan
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will appear before Congress this week for the first time since his tumultuous confirmation to discuss the fiscal 2026 military budget, even though the full White House request for his department has yet to be released.
Hegseth is scheduled to appear before both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on Tuesday and before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday. All three hearings are intended to be focused on funding issues for the next fiscal year.
But questions from lawmakers are unlikely to stay only on that topic.
Democratic lawmakers have already discussed plans to grill Hegseth on his use of non-secure messaging platforms ahead of overseas airstrikes, policy decisions ending outreach programs to women and minority recruits and the high-profile dismissals of multiple defense officials in recent months.
The defense secretary will be accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine in his first post-confirmation testimony, as well. Caine replaced Gen. CQ Brown after the latter was fired by President Donald Trump in February for unspecified reasons.
Last week, Senate leaders said they didn't expect specifics on the president's defense budget plan for several more weeks. But lawmakers said they need to press forward on the issue now to have any hope of reaching a funding deal by October, the start of the new fiscal year.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen 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 Armed Services — 10 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn Middle East/Africa Posture Gen. Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, will testify on current challenges and the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Appropriations — 10 a.m. — H-140 Capitol FY2026 Defense Budget Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Pending Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations. Senate Appropriations — 2 p.m. — 192 Dirksen FY2026 Defense Budget Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Appropriations — 3 p.m. — 2359 Rayburn FY2026 VA/Military Construction Budget The full committee will mark up its draft of the VA appropriations bill for fiscal 2026.
House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn 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 Veterans' Affairs — 11 a.m. — 360 Cannon Pending Legislation The subcommittee on economic opportunity will consider several pending bills. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Army Munition Industrial Base Department officials will testify on challenges and strategy with the Army munitions industrial base.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Central Command Gen. Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, will testify on current challenges and the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn FY2026 Defense Budget Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Pending Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations. Senate Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — 192 Dirksen Army Budget Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request.
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