The aide said the House gets the first chance to question Hagel
this year because the two committees alternate, and the Senate had the first budget
hearing with then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Dempsey in 2012.
{mosads}A House Armed Services aide said the House hearing had been planned for next Wednesday, one day before the Senate’s, as the president’s budget is typically released on a Monday. But last week the White House announced the budget would be released on Wednesday, April 10, and not Monday, April 8, making a Wednesday hearing impossible.
Next week’s hearing with Hagel will take on added significance as
it will be his first time appearing before Congress since he went through a contentious
confirmation process — and a difficult confirmation hearing — earlier this
year.
Both of the panels’ hearings will be taking place two months
later this year, as the president’s budget request is being submitted to Congress
more than two months late.
The Defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs
typically start the budget posture hearings for the four defense committees.
This year, however, the Armed Services panels have started instead with the
combatant commanders in order to deal with the late budget.
— This story was updated at 3:09 p.m.