MARKUP MADNESS: The Capitol Hill phase of the defense budget process kicks into high gear in the House this week as Armed Services subcommittees begin writing components of the National Defense Authorization Act, the voluminous annual bill that will set the 2018 policies and priorities for the Pentagon. The six subcommittee markup sessions on Wednesday and Thursday will begin to form the House’s position on ships, aircraft, troops and nuclear forces.

House Armed Services under the GOP chairmanship of Rep. Mac Thornberry has been pushing for bigger boost to the military than what was provided in Trump’s budget proposal in May and the hearings this week will give the first indication of how far it wants to go. A final bill is expected before Congress leaves for its summer recess in July. Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee under Sen. John McCain is working toward its version of the NDAA, which is also expected to call for higher defense spending. This week’s markup details are in the calendar below.