Leo Shane III

HASC passes #FY26NDAA draft by a 55-2 vote -- final gavel comes down at 11:37pm. Details here: militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-…

.@DeptVetAffairs expects to total almost 30,000 staff cuts by the end of this fiscal year, but is dropping plans for a larger reduction in force to trim the department bureaucracy militarytimes.com/veterans/2025/…

House members will start their August recess Thursday as GOP leaders just announced last House votes for this week and this month will take place Wednesday at 3:30pm. Members will then return September 2nd for votes.

Senate Appropriations approved its military construction and VA funding bill 25-3. (The committee votes to report the bill subject to amendment, meaning they approve the bill then debate amendment after.) The three no votes were Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, and Chris Van Hollen.

Since lawmakers are now talking about tacking large non-defense bills onto it, the House won’t try to bring the NDAA to the floor before recessing next week. “Oh god no,” Armed Services ranking Dem Adam Smith told me yesterday. “No, it’s September.”

New this morning: @Kennedy_School out today with a new fellowship for vets and former federal workers for public service studies. Move comes as the university is sparring publicly with the White House on a host of issues. militarytimes.com/education-tran…

11:37pm finish for HASC #NDAA markup tonight still makes it the second-fastest of the last 14 years. For info before that, you have to delve deep into the @connorobrienNH congressional archives (subscription only, $19.99 a month). docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

The Senate is now voting on the Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #134, Anthony J. Tata, of Florida, to be Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers gavels in today’s NDAA markup, telling members they need to sort through over 700 amendments. Most of those will be accepted as part of large bipartisan packages, but how many are subject to prolonged debate will determine how long it lasts.

Order for today's HASC #FY26NDAA markup: — Tactical Air/Land — Strategic forces — Seapower — Cyber — Readiness — Intelligence — Personnel — Full committee matters

Ok, it’s NDAA markup time again. Reply, DM, or email me with your best guess on when House Armed Services will gavel out tomorrow. For reference, last year HASC had the earliest end to markup on record at 10:17pm, per semi-official timekeeper @LeoShane

After last week's airstrikes, @RepTonyGonzales is proposing the creation of a new Iranian Campaign Medal, with eligibility open to any troops who served in direct support of Operation Midnight Hammer. militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-…

Lots of news today, but this House Dems roundtable now on veterans housing support is worth noting. The issue is becoming a friction point between the parties, with veterans groups trying to push for both reforms and continued support of current programs.

House Republicans pass $435 billion budget plan for VA next fiscal year over objections from Democratic lawmakers militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-…

Out now: @afghanevac and @iava are asking vets to accompany Afghan allies into immigration hearings, to show support from the community and provide reassurance if needed militarytimes.com/veterans/2025/…

THE HOUSE Iran briefing has been postponed. Likely won't be this week. Senate is Thursday.

New: Senate Iran briefing will now be on Thursday instead of today, allowing Secs Hegseth and Rubio to attend (they are currently at NATO), according to a person familiar.

Happening now — VA Sec Collins testified before the Senate Approps Committee on the FY26 budget request. Live here: appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-rev…