The GOP-led Senate is expected to pass the two-year budget agreement this week that would lift looming mandatory spending caps on both defense and nondefense discretionary spending and essentially end the restrictive limits established by the 2011 Budget Control Act, CQ reported Monday.
The bipartisan agreement, which will also suspend the debt limit until July 31, 2021, would set a fiscal 2020 defense spending topline of $738 billion and $740.5 billion in fiscal 2021. It also increases nondefense spending from $605 billion in fiscal 2019 to $632 billion in FY 2020, and $634 billion in FY 2021.
Last week the Democrat-led House easily passed the comprehensive legislation before adjourning for its August congressional recess, as Roll Call reported.
In addition to passage of the budget measure, the Senate also has a number of high priority confirmation activities this week for several top Pentagon posts. Current top-level DOD priorities include the permanent deputy defense secretary,  the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the next Chief of Naval operations.
Here is a quick roundup of the important Senate confirmation activities taking place this week:

• Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for Air Force Gen. John Hyten to become the next Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Tuesday, 10 a.m.
• Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for Navy Vice Adm. Michael Gilday to become the next Chief of Naval Operations, Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.
• Senate confirmation vote for current DOD Comptroller and Acting Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist to become the next permanent Deputy Secretary of Defense, expected by the end of the week.