WASHINGTON -- The Senate is expected to confirm the new Veterans Affairs secretary late Monday night, just in time for a week-long congressional focus on the department’s future budget and program priorities.
Senators are expected to easily confirm Dr. David Shulkin, the first non-veteran ever nominated for the post and the only holdover from the previous administration for President Trump, in a vote sometime after 7 p.m. on Monday.
The unusual Monday night vote is due to a series of other controversial Cabinet nominations that Senate Democrats protested in recent days.
Shulkin could be sworn in as early as Tuesday, just before lawmakers look at problems with bureaucratic waste, program inefficiencies and union conflicts within the department in a series of hearings later in the week.
Other committees will hone in on similar waste and fraud topics for defense. The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on the costly and controversial F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program on Thursday, and Senate Armed Services Committee officials will look at family readiness support and shortfalls in a Tuesday hearing.
Tuesday
Senate Armed Services -- 9:30 a.m. -- Visitor’s Center 217
Closed briefing
Members will hear from defense officials on long-term defense challenges and strategies.
House Armed Services -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Terrorism
Outside experts will testify before the committee on the evolving threats posed by terrorist groups and effective counterterrorism strategies.
House Science and Technology -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2318
Cybersecurity
Outside experts will testify before the committee on strengthening U.S. cybersecurity capabilities.
House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2172
Syria
Outside experts will testify before the committee on the threat posed by Syrian instability to the U.S. homeland and strategies for the region.
Senate Armed Services -- 2:30 p.m. -- Russell 222
Military families
The personnel subcommittee will hear from senior enlisted leaders from each of the four services on Department of Defense single servicemember and military family readiness programs.
Wednesday
Senate Armed Services -- 10 a.m. -- Visitor’s Center 217
Closed briefing
Members will hear from defense officials on European security challenges.
Senate Foreign Relations -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 419
Modern slavery
Actor Ashton Kutcher, who helped found a children’s rights organization, and other experts will testify before the committee to discuss modern slave trade.
Senate Homeland Security -- 2:45 p.m. -- Dirksen 342
Government waste
Committee members will review waste and fraud in federal agencies, including reports from the inspectors general from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Homeland Security.
Thursday
House Armed Services -- 9 a.m. -- Rayburn 2212
F-35 joint strike fighter
Military officials will give an update to the tactical air subcommittee on program on the embattled F-35 aircraft program and recent updates in purchasing schedules.
House Appropriations -- 9:30 a.m. -- Capitol HT-2
Member requests
Members of the military construction and Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee will hear from fellow lawmakers on district priorities and programs to be included in the fiscal 2018 budget.
House Science and Technology -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2318
NASA
Former astronauts and NASA administrations will testify before the committee on the future of the U.S. space program.
House Veterans’ Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2154
Unions
The subcommittee on government operations will hear from VA officials about union activities in the department and allegations of misuse of official work hours.
House Homeland Security -- 2 p.m. -- Visitors’ Center H-210
Watchdog recommendations
Committee members will review reports from the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general and the Government Accountability Office on ways to improve the agency’s operations.
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Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
