Hegseth set to meet lawmakers on Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget ask (opens in new tab)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to head to Capitol Hill next week to meet with top House and Senate lawmakers and hash out the Pentagon’s proposed $1.5 trillion budget. Hegseth will meet Monday with the so-called “big eight,” the top Republicans and Democrats on the Armed Services and Defense Appropriations committees, Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) told the Hill…