Latest news with #Dirksen
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House lawmakers expected to debate defense funding boosts this week
House Armed Services Committee members are expected to mark up their section of the congressional reconciliation package this week, potentially adding $150 billion in military spending in coming years. The reconciliation package — the broad framework of which has already been adopted by the Republican-led House and Senate — is expected to be up for chamber votes sometime next month. Committee work on individual sections of the spending plan are scheduled for the next two weeks, following lawmakers' return from a two-week spring recess. While many agencies are expected to see sharp spending decreases under the plan, Republican lawmakers have backed funding increases for military programs. House Armed Services leaders have tentatively scheduled a vote for their portion of the legislation for Tuesday. Officials have said they hope to phase in that money over the next five years, to counter current threats and boost White House defense priorities. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nominations of Michael Cadenazzi to be assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy and Vice Adm. Scott Pappano to be principal deputy administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. House Veterans' Affairs — 10 a.m. — 360 Cannon VA's Mental Health Policies VA officials will testify on department mental health assistance and care policies. House Oversight — 10 a.m. — 2247 Rayburn DOD's Financial Management Department officials will testify on financial management accountability and efforts for reform. Senate Veterans' Affairs — 10:30 a.m. — 418 Russell Veterans' Mental Health VA officials will testify on department mental health assistance and care policies. House Oversight — 2 p.m. — Visitors Center H210 Drones Defense Department officials will testify about the threats posed by drone activity over U.S. military bases. House Veterans' Affairs — 2:15 p.m. — 360 Cannon State Veterans Homes State and federal officials will testify on state veterans homes operations and challenges. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Installations Update Defense officials will testify on challenges facing military bases and properties. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — 232-A Russell Defense Industrial Base Outside experts will testify on partnerships between industry and the Defense Department. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Pending Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations. House Armed Services — 3 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Missile Defense Defense officials will testify on missile defense goals and challenges. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Military Personnel Defense officials will testify on military personnel priorities for fiscal 2026. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations, including Matthew Lohmeier to be undersecretary of Air Force and Justin Overbaugh to be deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
VA secretary to testify on department budget needs, workforce cuts
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will make his first appearance since his confirmation before Congress this week, testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday about the fiscal 2026 budget. Collins' trip to Capitol Hill comes amid increasing frustration among Democratic lawmakers about department reform plans. The secretary has set a goal of reducing the VA workforce to less than 400,000 staffers, which would require eliminating more than 80,000 federal posts in the coming months. In response, Collins has accused Democrats of fear-mongering and supporting a broken bureaucracy. He has insisted that VA must be more efficient with taxpayer money, including reducing its worker footprint. How the secretary is received by the committee — and how much he spars with his former House colleagues — will set the tone for appearances before other congressional panels later this spring. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations, including Bradley D. Hansell to be under secretary of defense for intelligence and security. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations, including Brandon Judd to be ambassador to Chile. House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn European Command Gen. Christopher Cavoli, head of U.S. European Command, will testify on current threats and fiscal 2026 budget needs. House Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — 2358-C Rayburn Military Quality of Life Service officials will testify on military quality of life challenges and improvements for military families. House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — 2172 Rayburn Foreign Policy Outside advocates will testify on the change in foreign policy strategy from the last White House to the current administration. Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — G-50 Dirksen Special Operations Command Gen. Bryan Fenton, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, will testify on current force challenges and the fiscal 2026 budget request. Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 222 Russell Nuclear Shipbuilding Naval officials will testify on the state of nuclear shipbuilding and future goals for the service. House Armed Services — 4 p.m. — 2212 Rayburn Biotechnology Members of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology will testify on their recent findings. House Armed Services — 8 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn Special Operations Command Gen. Bryan Fenton, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, will testify on current force challenges and the fiscal 2026 budget request. Senate Foreign Relations — 9:30 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations. House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Gen. Xavier Brunson, head of U.S. Forces Korea, will testify on regional challenges. House Appropriations — 10 a.m. — 2362-B Rayburn VA Budget VA Secretary Doug Collins will testify on department reform plans and the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — 2172 Rayburn Pending Legislation The committee will consider several pending bills. House Veterans' Affairs — 10:30 a.m. — 360 Cannon Pending Legislation The subcommittee on economic opportunity will mark up several pending bills. House Veterans' Affairs — 1:30 p.m. — 360 Cannon Pending Legislation The subcommittee on memorial affairs will mark up several pending bills. House Veterans' Affairs — 2 p.m. — 360 Cannon Veterans' Disability Compensation Department officials will testify on delays in disability compensation claims. Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 222 Russell Personnel Policies Service officials will testify on department personnel programs and the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Strategic Forces Posture Gen. Anthony Cotton, head of U.S. Strategic Command, Gen. Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command, and Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of U.S. Space Command, will testify on the military's strategic forces posture. Senate Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — G-50 Dirksen Cyber Command Service officials will testify on current challenges for cyber command and the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 4 p.m. — 2212 Rayburn Military Food Programs Service officials will testify on current military food assistance programs. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Gen. Xavier Brunson, head of U.S. Forces Korea, will testify on regional challenges.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
With FY2025 spending settled, lawmakers shift focus to FY2026 budget
Congress returns to Capitol Hill this week with a budget plan in place for the rest of fiscal 2025 but uncertainty over when lawmakers will have an outline for federal spending in fiscal 2026. Earlier this month, Congress finalized spending plans for federal programs through September, lifting the threat of a possible government shutdown until this fall. But the extended delay in settling the current budget has pushed back the timeline for the next round of budget debates, which are typically well underway by late March. The White House has yet to unveil spending levels and program priorities for fiscal 2026, a process that usually begins in early February in non-transition years and by early April when a new administration takes office. Once those guidelines are suggested, House and Senate appropriators will take the rest of the spring and summer parsing those levels, with the hope of reaching a full-year budget agreement by Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year. House Veterans' Affairs — 3 p.m. — 360 Cannon Community Providers VA officials and outside advocates will testify on ways to improve interoperability between department clinics and community health care providers. House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — 2200 Rayburn African Resources Outside experts will testify on Chinese involvement in Africa. House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — 2172 Rayburn State Department Administrative Services Outside experts will testify on ways to streamline State Department operations. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419 Pending nominations The committee will consider several pending nominations. House Veterans' Affairs — 10:15 a.m. — 360 Cannon VA Transition Assistance VA officials and outside advocates will testify on ways to improve transition services for individuals leaving the military. House Veterans' Affairs — 2:15 p.m. — 360 Cannon Pending Legislation The subcommittee on health will consider several pending bills. Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 222 Russell Conventional Surface Shipbuilding Vice Adm. James Downey, head of Naval Sea Systems Command, will testify on current shipbuilding goals and challenges. Senate Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 232-A Russell AI Cyber Capabilities Outside experts will testify on potential uses of artificial intelligence for the defense community. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2116 Rayburn Transportation Command Gen. Randall Reed, head of U.S. Transportation Command, will testify on fiscal 2026 budget needs. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — 106 Dirksen Strategic and Space Command Gen. Anthony Cotton, head of U.S. Strategic Command, and Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of U.S. Space Command, will testify on fiscal 2026 budget needs. House Select Intelligence — 10 a.m. — 1100 Longworth Worldwide Threats Assessment Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Director Kash Patel will testify on threats facing America. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Indo-Pacific Alliances Outside experts will testify on U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. House Veterans' Affairs — 10:15 a.m. — 360 Cannon Pending Legislation The subcommittee on disability assistance will consider several pending bills. Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 222 Russell Military Service Academies Superintendents from the three service academies will testify on current operations and challenges. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Special Operations Forces Colby Jenkins, acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, and Gen. Bryan Fenton, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, will testify on fiscal 2026 budget needs. Senate Foreign Relations — 11 a.m. — Capitol S-116 Pending Business The committee will consider several pending bills.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump speech to Congress expected to key on Ukraine, national security
President Donald Trump will deliver a national address before Congress this week that is expected to touch on a number of key national security issues, including Pentagon reforms and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The speech — which is not officially a State of the Union address, but has the same goals — is scheduled for 9 p.m. on Tuesday. It comes just a few days after Trump sparred with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a White House meeting, and amid increasing tensions between the two countries over military support for Ukraine's defense against Russia. White House officials have not revealed any speech previews yet, but Trump is expected to address that conflict and his broader efforts to increase U.S. military might through budget and personnel changes. In the last few weeks, the White House has proposed cutting more than 5,000 civilian defense workers and reassigning at least $50 billion in budgetary plans to increase Defense Department efficiency and better focus on warfighting priorities. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — 106 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nomination of Elbridge Colby to be under secretary of defense for policy. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider several nominations, including Christopher Landau to be deputy secretary of state. House and Senate Veterans' Affairs — 10 a.m. — 650 Dirksen Veterans organizations Veterans groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Paralyzed Veterans of America, will present their legislative priorities for the coming year. House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — 310 Cannon Chinese Threats Outside experts will testify on U.S. efforts to counter threats from China to U.S. national security. House Transportation — 10 a.m. — 2167 Rayburn Coast Guard Infrastructure Service officials will testify on acquisition and infrastructure needs. Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Western Hemisphere Outside experts will testify on American interests in the Western Hemisphere. House Veterans' Affairs — 10:15 a.m. — 360 Cannon Pending Legislation The committee will consider several pending bills, including the Defrauding VA Benefits Act. House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — 2172 Rayburn Turkey Outside experts will testify on the current situation in Turkey and national security implications for America. Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 106 Russell U.S. Transportation Command Gen. Randall Reed, head of U.S. Transportation Command, will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request.
Chicago Tribune
31-01-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Andy Shaw: An executive order from Donald Trump could bring new life to Chicago
Chicago is one of President Donald Trump's favorite urban punching bags — we have too many dangerous migrants, violent criminals, greedy tax eaters and corrupt Democrats, he proclaims loudly. But that didn't stop him from promoting his brand by plastering his last name in big bold capital letters on a visible side of a downtown high-rise. And it turns out Chicago may also be lucky enough to benefit, inadvertently I'm sure, from one of his executive orders — the one compelling most federal employees who continue to work remotely long after the subsiding of the pandemic to return to their offices in the next few weeks. That means thousands of those workers who don't retire or take buyouts — if those Trump offers survive legal or congressional challenges — could be be refilling the Dirksen, Metcalfe, Kluczynski and other federal buildings in the Loop, potentially reinvigorating what has become the Midwest version of a post-gold rush ghost town. Here's the back story. The exodus of businesses along the previously bustling South State Street, between Madison Street and Ida B. Wells Drive, occurred gradually during and after the paralyzing pandemic and was exacerbated by fallout from destructive civil unrest in the Loop following the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Beef and Brandy, a popular food and drink establishment, went dark; then DSW, the discount shoe store; another CVS drugstore; and the beat went on, one storefront after another emptying. My wife and I, owners of a condo on Monroe Street east of Wabash Avenue, watched with a sad and resigned understanding of the driving economic and social dynamics at play here: thousands of people who previously filled nearby offices and higher education campuses working and studying remotely and an untold number of wary tourists and visitors avoiding downtown. Too few people eating, drinking and shopping to support bars, restaurants and businesses that can't survive without patrons. The hollowing out of State Street deprived the city of desperately needed tax dollars and painted a graphic picture of a city in decline. It reminded me of some of the once-thriving East Coast college towns I visited with our oldest daughter in the late 1990s after they'd been decimated by the departure of major businesses and industries that fled to Southern states and countries to escape high taxes and labor costs. But now, in our Chicago neighborhood, there's a bright light at the end of this dark tunnel. An estimated 17,000 federal jobs are in the city, most of them concentrated in the South Loop, and if most of those employees decide to keep their positions and head back into their offices, the result could be transformative: a renewed demand for breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner, cocktails and sundries in retail establishments that could refill the vacant storefronts with new merchants. And perhaps there would be a new wave of evening activities fueled by a promising civic initiative to revitalize downtown with an infusion of art, culture and entertainment. In addition to federal workers, thousands of college students, faculty and support staff members who fill half a dozen Loop campuses would have an incentive to fully enjoy the area instead of hunkering down in their academic enclaves and heading home before dark. Properly policed, the Loop could once again attract tourists, visitors and local residents. This soon-to-be unfolding development has the potential to give our struggling downtown a huge economic lift and an equally valuable and much-needed collateral benefit: a big morale boost for the entire city. And if, as I fervently hope, the Loop revitalization comes to pass, it will also provide a beleaguered City Hall with bragging rights and an opportunity to send a thank-you note in big bold capital letters to a sworn political and civic adversary: Trump. That would be a delicious irony — the ultimate cherry atop the revitalization cake. Andy Shaw is a semiretired journalist and good government watchdog who splits his time between Chicago and southwest Michigan.
