WASHINGTON — The head of U.S. Africa Command will testify before Congress this week as military officials are finalizing their investigation into the deaths of four U.S. soldiers in Niger last fall.

But House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said last week not to expect too many new revelations on that ambush during the Tuesday hearing, since Defense Department officials are still reviewing those findings.

The incident made national news last fall not only for the deaths but also because of a lack of public awareness of U.S. military operations in the region and President Donald Trump’s handling of condolence calls to family members of the fallen troops.

The hearing comes amid a slew of defense budget hearings in the House and Senate this week. Thornberry’s committee alone has nine hearings scheduled over three days, after 12 hearings in the two months prior.

Tuesday, March 6

Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Hart 216
Worldwide threats
Director Of National Intelligence Daniel Coats and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley Jr. will testify before the committee on national security threats.

House Oversight — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2154
Army Corps of Engineers
Committee members will hear from Army officials about the corps’ work and future funding needs.

House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
Africa
Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, head of U.S. Africa Command, will testify before the committee on current missions in his region of responsibility and the fiscal 2019 budget request.

House Armed Services — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
Seapower
Navy officials will testify before the committee on seapower and projection forces, and the fiscal 2019 budget request.

House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 2 p.m. — Dirksen G50
Veterans groups’ priorities
The two committees will hear from representatives from nine veterans groups, including AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 232A
Navy and Marine Corps aviation
Service officials will testify before the committee on current aviation programs and the fiscal 2019 budget request.

House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2212
Marine Corps readiness
Marine Corps officials will testify before the committee on the service’s readiness posture and the fiscal 2019 budget request.

Wednesday, March 7

House Appropriations — 10 a.m. — Capitol H140
Navy and Marine Corps budget
Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.

House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
Acquisition reform
Service acquisition officials will testify before the committee on recent improvements to military processes and possible reforms for the future.

House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Dirksen G50
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Officials from the VFW will testify before the committee on their legislative priorities for 2018.

House Science — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2318
NASA budget
Robert Lightfoot Jr., acting administrator at NASA, will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.

House Transportation — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2167
Coast Guard
The committee will hear from Coast Guard officials on current challenges and the fiscal 2019 budget request.

House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2172
China
Outside experts will testify before the committee on Chinese influence in Africa.

House Armed Services — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2212
F-35 program
Officials from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program will testify before officials on the latest updates on aircraft production.

Senate Foreign Relations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Nomination
The committee will consider the nomination of Joseph Macmanus to be ambassador of Colombia.

House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
Strategic forces
Gen. John Hyten, head of U.S. Strategic Command, and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.

Thursday, March 8

House Armed Services — 9 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
Transportation command
Gen. Darren McDew, head of U.S. Transportation Command, will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 and current challenges in military mobility missions.

Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
European Command
Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, head of U.S. European Command, will testify before the committee on national

House Armed Services — 10:30 a.m. — Rayburn 2212
Arlington Cemetery
Army officials and outside advocates will testify before the committee on future plans for Arlington National Cemetery.

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.

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