As congressional leaders struggle to find a short-term budget fix to keep the government running past the end of this month, Senate Armed Services Committee officials will invite military leaders to a Thursday hearing to talk about the long-term budget problems facing their forces.



Army Chief Of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Air Force Chief Of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, Marine Corps Commandant Robert Neller and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson are scheduled to testify that morning on the financial strains put on the force by five years of spending caps and offer "innovative" solutions for maintaining military superiority.



Leading up to that, House and Senate negotiators will be working on a budget breakthrough and final compromises on the annual defense authorization bill. Pentagon leaders have repeatedly complained that the lack of compromise and long-term planning is hurting their ability to efficiently manage their money.



The committee has also scheduled a Tuesday hearing on cyber matters and encryption, in the wake of how Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton handled her digital information as secretary of state.



Monday



Senate Foreign Relations -- 5 p.m. -- Visitors Center S217

Closed briefing

Committee members will receive a closed briefing on the failed coup in Turkey and the future of U.S.-Turkish cooperation.



Tuesday



Senate Armed Services -- 9:30 a.m. -- Hart 216

Cyber defense

Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Marcell Lettre II and U.S. Cyber Command chief Adm. Michael Rogers will testify before the committee on encryption and cyber matters.



House Homeland Security -- 10 a.m. -- Cannon 311

Defense-in-Depth

The subcommittee on border security will discuss the effectiveness of the U.S. Border Patrol's so-called Defense-in-Depth strategy, and its impact on drug trafficking.



Senate Foreign Relations -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 419

U.S.-U.K. relations

Committee members will discuss the possible impact of Brexit on the U.S. relationship with the United Kingdom and Europe.



Wednesday



Senate Foreign Relations -- 9:30 a.m. -- Dirksen 419

Child protections

The subcommittee on global women's issues will hear from outside experts on efforts to end child marriage and protect girls.



House Foreign Affairs -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2172

Iran policy

Lawmakers will mark up legislation prohibiting the distribution of ransom payments to the government of Iran.



House Homeland Security -- 10 a.m. -- Cannon 311

Terrorist pathways

The committee will review the Department of Homeland Security's capabilities to identify and track foreign fighters and other terrorists attempting to enter the United States.



House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2200

Turkey

The subcommittee on Europe will discuss the long-term security ramifications of the failed coup attempt in Turkey two months ago.



House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2172

Eritrea

Members of the Africa subcommittee will discuss instability in Eritrea and its security effects on the region.



Senate Foreign Relations -- 2:15 p.m. -- Dirksen 419

NATO

The committee will hear from outside experts on the possibility of North Atlantic Treaty Organization expansion, focusing on the accession of Montenegro.



Senate Veterans' Affairs -- 2:30 p.m. -- Russell 418

Commission on Care

Lawmakers will hear from members of the Commission on Care on their report to reform VA health care, and receive feedback from VA officials.



House Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118

Next Generation Air Space Control

The subcommittee on projection forces will hear from Air Force officials on their likelihood of complying with Next Generation Air Space Control requirements.



Thursday



Senate Armed Services -- 9:30 a.m. -- Dirksen G50

Military budgets

Army Chief Of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Air Force Chief Of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, Marine Corps Commandant Robert Neller and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson will testify before the committee on long-term budgetary challenges facing the military services.



House Foreign Affairs -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2172

Nicaragua

The subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere will discuss security problems in Nicaragua and the impact on the region.



Senate Foreign Relations -- 2:15 p.m. -- Dirksen 419

Norway

Committee members will discuss the civil nuclear agreement with Norway and its long-term security implications.



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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.



