National Security Strategy

Last Friday at a Brookings Institution event, National Security Advisor Susan Rice released the Administration’s much delayed National Security Strategy. The President’s new National Security Strategy “provides a vision and strategy for advancing the nation’s interests, universal values, and a rules-based international order through strong and sustainable American leadership.” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) commented on the Strategy from the Munich Security Conference, saying:

“More than ever the world needs the United States to speak clearly and stand strong. Instead the President has adopted a posture of ‘strategic patience.’”

This Tuesday, February 10, the Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing titled, “Global Challenges and U.S. National Security Strategy.”

FY 2016 Budget Request

Last Monday, President Obama released his $4 trillion Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Budget. The President’s proposal provides $534 billion in discretionary funding for the base budget of the Defense Department and $51 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding for a total of $585 billion to sustain the President’s national security and defense strategies. Republicans have largely panned the President’s budget proposal as a tax-and-spend wish list, saying it will never pass Congress.

This Wednesday, February 11, the House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing to examine “Alternative Budgets and Strategic Choices,” with private sector experts testifying.

This Week’s Hearings:

• Wednesday, February 11: The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing to examine the situation in Afghanistan, with private sector witnesses testifying.

• Wednesday, February 11: The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to receive a closed briefing on world-wide nuclear capabilities

• Wednesday, February 11: The Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing titled, “Retirement and Compensation Proposals of the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission.”

• Wednesday, February 11: The House Armed Services Miltary Personnel Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing titled, “Final Recommendations from the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission.”

• Thursday, February 12: The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold another hearing to examine the situation in Afghanistan, with the International Security Assistance Force Commander, U.S. Forces–Afghanistan Commander scheduled to testify. A portion of this hearing will be closed to the public.

• Thursday, February 12: The House Armed Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing titled, “Update on Detainee Transfers from GTMO.”

• Friday, February 13: The House Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing titled, “What Is The State of Islamic Extremism: Key Trends, Challenges, and Implications for U.S. Policy.”