'Formers' and Futures

The House Armed Services Committee is planning a series of hearings intended to shed light on what one staffer called “the future of the military.”

The introspection comes amid great tension on Capitol Hill, with deep budget cuts on the table in defense and elsewhere.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has spoken out vigorously against defense spending cuts deeper than the $350 billion to $400 billion range discussed for many weeks, a range that has come to serve as something of a goalpost. Notably, he has also offered a fresh definition of national security that may not sit well with some hawks -- namely, that Americans' overall quality of life plays a part in ensuring it.

House Armed Services Committee spokesman John Noonan said the details of the hearing series have yet to be finalized. “Look for a good selection of 'Formers,' especially flag officers,” he told us via email. Another staffer said the lineup is expected to include former cabinet secretaries and chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.