WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for fiscal 2019 is set to be released Monday, and congressional work on the funding plan will start right away.

Even though lawmakers are still more than a month away from finalizing the fiscal 2018 budget, Capitol Hill committees will begin dissecting the next budget plan in a series of hearings starting this week, with a particular focus on the Defense Department.

The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have seven hearings scheduled for this week alone, with more to come on budget issues in the weeks ahead.

In addition, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin will testify on his department’s budget request, his second appearance on Capitol Hill in the last two weeks.

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Tuesday, Feb. 13

Senate Intelligence — 9:30 a.m. — Hart 216
World Wide Threats
Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo and National Security Agency Director Michael Rogers will testify before the committee on national security threats.

Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 222 Russell
Elections
Outside experts will testify on DOD’s role in protecting foreign democratic elections.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
Pacific security
U.S. Pacific Command head Adm. Harry Harris, nominated to be the next ambassador to Australia last week, will testify before the committee on security challenges in the Pacific region.

House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2172
Israeli-Palestinian peace plan
The subcommittee on the Middle East will hear from outside experts on U.S. involvement in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2200
Organization of American States
The subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere will hear from outside experts on U.S. involvement in the Organization of American States.

Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 222
Force readiness
The services’ chiefs of staff will testify before the committee on force readiness and the fiscal 2019 defense budget request.

Senate Armed Services — 3 p.m. — Russell 232A
Personnel programs
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Robert Wilkie Jr. and service representatives will testify before the committee on military family readiness and personnel programs.

House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2212
Air Force readiness
Service officials will testify before the committee on Air Force readiness posture and the fiscal 2019 budget request.

Thursday, Feb. 15

Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
NORTHCOM/SOUTHCOM
U.S. Northern Command head Gen. Lori Robinson and U.S. Southern Command head Adm. Kurt Tidd will testify on the fiscal 2019 budget request and emerging threats.

House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
China
Outside experts will testify before the committee on U.S. strategic competition with China.

Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of Andrea Thompson to be undersecretary of State for arms control, Susan Thornton to be an assistant secretary of State for Pacific Affairs, and Francis Fannon to be an assistant secretary of State for energy resources.

House Veterans’ Affairs — 10:30 a.m. — Cannon 334
VA budget
VA Secretary David Shulkin will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2019 budget request.

House Armed Services — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2212
Special forces
Gen. Raymond Thomas, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 defense budget request.

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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