The week ahead

The week ahead in Washington is compressed because of the Thanksgiving holiday, but major defense legislation is headed to the White House for President Trump's signature and lawmakers have begun negotiations on a final fiscal year 2018 appropriations package.

Monday

Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, chief of Air Combat Command, speaks at an Air Force Association breakfast in Washington.

Authorization

Congress passed the FY-18 defense authorization bill last week, which is expected to receive president Trump's signature. The bill authorizes $626.4 billion in base defense spending and $65.7 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funds.

Appropriations

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) has said he would release FY-18 chairman's marks of the four remaining appropriations bills this week, including defense. He has urged congressional negotiators to reach bipartisan consensus on FY-18 spending levels before the expiration of a Dec. 8 continuing resolution.