U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a statement after Senate Democrats voted against moving forward with the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill. The bill had previously advanced out of the Appropriations Committee with bipartisan support, passing by a vote of 26-3.
Collins criticized the decision, stating, “Today Senate Democrats blocked the consideration of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill – a bill that advanced out of the Appropriations Committee by a bipartisan vote of 26-3.
“Unfortunately, Senate Democrats chose to continue to play partisan games and voted to block a bill that is vital to our national defense and to the well-being of the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces.
“The Defense appropriations legislation includes full-year funding needed to deter our adversaries, strengthen the defense industrial base, and invest in shipbuilding. It would provide a downpayment toward an additional DDG-51, the workhorse of the U.S. Navy, along with investments in additional Columbia and Virginia class submarines – funding that would directly benefit Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The bill would also fully fund the 3.8 percent pay raise that was approved by the Senate last week as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
“Instead of working with Republicans to remove the uncertainty facing our troops about when they will be paid, Democrats chose to continue the needless and reckless Schumer shutdown. The government has now been shut down for more than two weeks, and the consequences will only continue to worsen. As our defense capabilities are hampered, China’s and Russia’s continue to grow.
“Let us abandon this brinkmanship and vote to reopen government and continue our work to pass the annual appropriations bills.”
The blocked bill included provisions for full-year defense funding, investments in naval shipbuilding, and a pay raise for military personnel. Collins highlighted that this funding would benefit key shipyards such as Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
The ongoing government shutdown has lasted over two weeks, which Collins argued is impacting military readiness while other global powers increase their capabilities.
