iSecretary Carter to Testify on the Defense Department’s Budget
This week, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter will testify this week on the Department’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Budget request. He is scheduled to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday and the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee on Wednesday.
Sequestration
In advance of congressional oversight committee hearings this week, Army Secretary John McHugh warned that “slipping into sequestration would significantly damage or erode our ability to answer the bell.” He will likely continue this message of seeking relief from budget caps (sequestration) when he testifies Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Syria/Iraq
Last week, the House Armed Services Committee began congressional debate of President’s proposed Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) against ISIL. On Tuesday, 3 March, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a closed hearing on the campaign against ISIL.
Congressional Hearings This Week:
Tuesday, March 3: The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2016 and the Future Years Defense Program.” Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey are scheduled to testify.
Tuesday, March 3: The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “The President’s Proposed Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ISIL and U.S. Policy, Strategy, and Posture in the Greater Middle East.”
Tuesday, March 3: The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Alignment of Infrastructure Investment and Risk and Defense Strategic Requirements.”
Tuesday, March 3: The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee will hold a closed hearing on the budget for U.S. Africa Command.
Wednesday, March 4: The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Defense Department’s Budget.
Wednesday, March 4: The Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the FY 2016 funding request and budget justification for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
Wednesday, March 4: The Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, “Active, Guard, Reserve, and Civilian Personnel Programs.”
Wednesday, March 4: The Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, “U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy, Programs, and Strategy.”
Wednesday, March 4: The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “U.S. Policy, Strategy, and Posture in Afghanistan: Post-2014 Transition, Risks, and Lessons Learned.”
Wednesday, March 4: The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Air Force Projection Forces Aviation Programs and Capabilities for Fiscal Year 2016.”
Wednesday, March 4: The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Cyber Operations: Improving the Military Cyber Security Posture in an Uncertain Threat Enviornment.”
Thursday, March 5: The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Postures of the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force.”
Thursday, March 5: The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Update on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program and the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request.”
Thursday, March 5: The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee will hold a closed hearing on the budget for U.S. Central Command.
