VA would see a 10% boost in funding under a plan advanced by Republican appropriators on Tuesday, but Democrats oppose other parts of the bill. Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of May 20, 2024. VA leaders have said they plan to trim about 10,000 department posts in fiscal year 2025 in an effort to better manage their workforce. Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of May 6, 2024. The U.S. Air Force would receive enough money to buy 51 F-35As in fiscal 2024 under the compromise defense spending bill lawmakers released. If Congress does not approve a federal appropriations plan by midnight, some military activities could be postponed or canceled over the weekend. The Air Force says this reorganization is needed to prepare it for a fight against China, but lawmakers say they need to hear more about these plans. Lawmakers and senior military leaders say that military pay needs to be based more on the role and responsibilites of troops, and not simply their age. The Pentagon is operating under its third continuing resolution of fiscal 2024 as Congress continues to draft defense spending legislation. Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Oct. 30, 2023. Load More