Senate Armed Services Committee

Rule Changes

As of October 2026: Reviewing the cuts; members have raised constitutional objections

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is cutting one in five positions reserved for generals and admirals, roughly 170 senior jobs across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force. He announced the move at his State of the Force address in Quantico, Virginia, on Sept. 30, doubling a reduction he ordered in May 2025.

Updated Oct 1

Rule Changes

As of July 2026: Its bill is stalled on the Senate floor

A U.S. service member's paycheck is about to grow by 5% to 7%. That raise rides inside a $1.15 trillion defense bill the House passed by four votes, the largest military authorization Congress has ever written.

Updated Jul 23

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Conducting bipartisan investigation into boat strikes

Trump confirmed the first known U.S. land attack inside Venezuela on December 30—a drone strike on a coastal dock allegedly used by the Tren de Aragua gang, with no one present when missiles hit. The same day, a U.S. strike on a boat in the Pacific killed two more people, bringing total deaths to at least 107 since September.

Updated May 18