Congressional hearings this week have focused on the readiness and funding needs of key federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force, for fiscal year 2026.
On June 4, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing with Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll and Chief of Staff General Randy A. George to discuss the Army's posture and capabilities for the upcoming fiscal year. Driscoll and George also appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 5 to further address the Army's budget and resource requirements.
The House also convened hearings with Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, who requested $22 billion in funding to address critical safety overhauls, modernize outdated air traffic control systems, and alleviate longstanding staffing shortages. Lawmakers, including Rep. Steve Womack, questioned Rocheleau on the rise in near-miss incidents, air traffic control staffing, and the agency's response to a deadly crash earlier in the year. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has budgeted $12.5 billion for air traffic control system upgrades, though officials indicated this amount would be insufficient.
The hearings highlighted bipartisan concerns over the reliability of FAA funding, the pace of modernization efforts, and the impact of staffing levels on aviation safety. Lawmakers also referenced delays in the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and called for more effective use of existing resources.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and other military officials testified before the House Armed Services Committee on the posture and readiness of the U.S. Air Force for fiscal year 2026.
In addition to aviation and defense, other Congressional committees held hearings on biotechnology innovation, foreign influence on U.S. data, and Labor Department priorities.
Yesterday, I led a @HouseAppropsGOP Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee hearing where I questioned @FAA_Chris about staffing concerns across all sectors of the FAA. Watch:
