Full Committee Hearing: Department of Defense FY27 Budget Request

The U.S. House Armed Services Committee held a full committee hearing on April 29, 2026, to review the Department of Defense's Fiscal Year 2027 budget request totaling $1.5 trillion, the largest increase since World War II. The hearing focused extensively on procurement and budgetary priorities, including significant investments in sustainment, modernization, military pay raises, and quality of life improvements for service members. Key procurement-related topics included a 76% increase in procurement funding, a 64% increase in research and development, and over $100 billion allocated to revitalize the defense industrial base, including shipbuilding, munitions production, and critical mineral supply chains. Witnesses highlighted multiyear procurement agreements and private sector investments totaling over $50 billion to expand manufacturing capacity. The committee also discussed the costs and supplemental funding related to ongoing military operations, particularly the war in Iran, with an estimated $25 billion spent to date. Members raised concerns about munitions stockpile depletion, readiness impacts from extended deployments, and the need for acquisition reform to improve efficiency and accountability. The hearing included robust debate on strategic objectives, military leadership changes, and the balance between sustainment and modernization funding. Several members emphasized the importance of transparency and detailed reporting on war costs and procurement spending. The committee expressed bipartisan support for the budget's focus on rebuilding military capabilities and industrial capacity while also scrutinizing operational and strategic challenges associated with current conflicts.