With Connor O’Brien, Lara Seligman and Paul McLeary

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— What’s in store today for defense appropriations in the House markup.

— The Navy secretary pick will face tough questions in his Senate nomination hearing today.

— The top American commander in Afghanistan has relinquished his command as the U.S. military shifts to a new mission.

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APPROPRIATIONS ACTION: The House Appropriations Committee will mark up the defense and homeland security spending bills for fiscal 2022 today.

Key differences: Republicans have criticized the $706 billion defense bill as not enough and contend more is needed to fund military modernization and compete with China. GOP lawmakers have also expressed opposition to a lack of provisions that would bar the administration