This week in Congress: SecDef defends the White House budget

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This week in Congress: SecDef defends the White House budget
By Leo Shane III
Mar 17, 08:00 PM
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley (right) testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C.(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin this week will make his first appearance before Congress to discuss the White House’s fiscal 2024 budget request, which includes a record $842 billion for military operations.

Austin’s appearance before the House Appropriations Committee is likely to be a tense one. Thursday won’t be the first time the defense secretary has faced direct criticism from Republican lawmakers in his two-plus years on the job, but it will be the first time he faces that questioning with Republicans in the majority.

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