After Securing Key New Hampshire and National Security Priorities, Shaheen Helps Advance Annual Defense Bill

**A top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen built on her years-long legacy of securing key New Hampshire priorities, as well as measures that address America's top security challenges**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, helped advance the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – annual defense legislation that authorizes Pentagon priorities and programs for the next fiscal year. The bill was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) in a bipartisan vote. 

As a senior member of SASC, Senator Shaheen's additions to the defense bill address both America's top national security objectives, while also enhancing New Hampshire’s role in support of our national defense.

“With Secretary Hegseth at the helm of the Pentagon, it’s more critical this year than ever that Congress uses the annual defense bill to assert its oversight authority and advance policy to improve the lives of service members. The legislation cleared by the Senate Armed Services Committee this week is not perfect but includes many of my provisions to put guardrails on Secretary Hegseth’s harmful policies, including to protect the shipyard workforce from hiring freezes, ensure President Trump’s trade war isn’t passing the price of defense contracts onto the taxpayer, to make sure promised military assistance continues to flow to Ukraine in their fight for democracy and freedom and protect U.S. basing in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo Pacific.” said Senator Shaheen. “I was also proud to secure provisions that support New Hampshire’s defense industry and good-paying jobs, improve service members’ access to affordable child care and housing, invest in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s capacity and more.”

The Committee-passed bill now moves to the full Senate before it is conferenced with the U.S. House of Representatives. Below is a summary of top New Hampshire and national security priorities secured by Shaheen in the FY 2026 NDAA.

Protecting the Public Shipyard Workforce

Senator Shaheen led a provision to ensure the chaos and confusion that ensued from Secretary Hegseth’s Department of Defense (DoD) civilian hiring freeze does not happen again. The legislation will protect thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and public shipyards across the nation.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a key economic driver in the region, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security. After calls from Shaheen and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), DoD claimed to have exempted the shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze, but issues persist in implementation. Shaheen’s provision will make this exemption final and addresses hiring delays that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has continued to face.

Reassuring America’s Allies and Partners

Standing with Ukraine:

Senator Shaheen has consistently worked to ensure the delivery of military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and democracy amid Putin’s war of aggression.

The Committee-passed NDAA includes a reauthorization of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, Department of Defense’s authority to equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Shaheen also secured language prohibiting the diversion of military equipment obligated for Ukraine after the Pentagon’s misguided decision, since overruled by President Trump.

The Committee-passed bill also includes Shaheen-authored amendments that allow the continued sharing of U.S. information, intelligence and imagery to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield and prevent cuts to security cooperation funding for U.S. forces in Europe.

Supporting NATO Allies and Enhancing Global Partnerships:

Shaheen also secured provisions that send a strong message of commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies and other U.S. partners abroad. Her legislation requires the executive branch to consult with Congress and our NATO Allies before any attempt to abdicate the Commander of U.S. European Command’s dual role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe. This comes after Shaheen pressed senior U.S. military officials on the importance of this U.S. responsibility at NATO. An American general has also served as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces in Europe since General Dwight Eisenhower assumed the role following the establishment of the NATO alliance.

The bill includes legislation led by Shaheen requiring the Pentagon to consult with Congress before making changes to U.S. military force posture in Europe and on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. presence in Europe and the Indo Pacific deters adversaries and strengthens our alliances. This legislation will require the Secretary of Defense to certify to Congress that he has consulted the Secretary of State, Director of National Intelligence, senior U.S. military officers in the theaters and officials from regional governments—including NATO Allies, South Korea, Japan and others—before reducing our force presence in Europe or South Korea.

Shaheen also prevented the further consolidation of U.S. military bases in Syria—a move that helps to prevent a resurgence of ISIS influence in the region following the establishment of a new, post-Assad Syrian government.

Protecting Defense Supply Chains from Reckless Tariffs

The bill includes Senator Shaheen’s amendment that would require the Department of Defense to assess the impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs on the defense supply chain and protect current regulations that are providing relief to small businesses in the defense industrial base.

Shaheen has been vocal in her concerns about the administration’s trade war and its impacts on America’s national defense and military readiness, including by calling on Secretary Hegseth to address how tariffs are impacting the Department’s purchasing power, weakening supply chains and raising costs on small businesses.  This provision in the NDAA comes after Shaheen’s third annual bipartisan Congressional delegation to the largest trade show in the world, the Paris Air Show, where she heard concerns about the President’s trade war from allies, partners and the defense and civil aerospace industry. Following the Air Show, Shaheen penned an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal..

Supporting Jobs and the New Hampshire National Guard

To bolster the civilian defense and national security workforce, Senator Shaheen secured an amendment in line with her Defense Workforce Integration Act. The bipartisan, bicameral Shaheen-led bill would leverage existing programs and best practices within the Department of Defense to address persistent workforce shortages by retaining the talent and motivation of those who desire to serve in uniform but are found to be medically disqualified.

As co-chair of the bipartisan U.S. Senate National Guard Caucus, Shaheen has long advocated on behalf of National Guard members. To strengthen the National Guard’s ability to protect and aid New Hampshire in times of crisis, Shaheen secured a provision in this year’s NDAA to help the National Guard retain quality commissioned and warrant officers and maintain increased levels of personnel readiness. Specifically, the amendment allows officers and warrant officers to transfer from active status in the Reserves to the Inactive National Guard.

Confronting the Challenges Posed by PFAS Contamination

Senator Shaheen successfully added an amendment to respond more quickly to the spread of PFAS contamination at certain military installations and surrounding communities where PFAS are discovered in existing water sources as a result of military activities. The policy requires the Department of Defense to take action to address contamination hotspots and provide safe drinking water to communities while the lengthier remedial investigation process moves forward. Shaheen also secured adoption of an amendment to clarify that DoD can use innovative technologies for destroying PFAS to provide more tools to address contamination.

Shaheen opposed amendments that were ultimately adopted to rescind the moratorium on PFAS incineration and prohibit the military from procuring a variety of items containing PFAS, including cookware used to prepare food in military galleys and furniture upholstery and carpeting for military installations. These provisions add unnecessary exposure to harmful toxins for service members and their families, increasing their chances of long-term health impacts.

Shaheen has worked for more than a decade to hold the Department of Defense responsible for remediation of PFAS contamination at military bases and ensure transparency for affected communities. Shaheen spearheaded the first nationwide PFAS health impact study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) that is in its final stages. Shaheen leads efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination. Because of her efforts, Pease served as a model site for the nationwide study. Shaheen has also led efforts to improve the Defense Department’s transparency and engagement with local communities, improve safety of firefighting gear, phase out use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam and expand blood-testing for military firefighters exposed to PFAS. Shaheen also secured record funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure to address PFAS contamination in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.

Defending and Strengthening Support for America’s Service Members and Their Families

Addressing Sexual Assault in the Military:

Senator Shaheen successfully fought for a provision to increase accountability and transparency for investigations into military sexual assault cases. The Committee-passed NDAA includes Shaheen’s amendment requiring the National Guard Bureau to provide an annual report on the number of Guardsmen who participate in Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training each year.

Shaheen has championed efforts in the Senate to respond to and address sexual assault in the military. In the FY23 NDAA, she helped secure reforms that expanded the types of sexual misconduct offenses and addressed the role of military commanders’ convening authority power. She played a pivotal role in the adoption of historic reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to address sexual assault in the military, including taking those offenses out of a service member’s chain of command.

Expanding Access to Child Care for Military Families:

Shaheen helped secure inclusion of a provision to expand child care access for military families by directing the Department of Defense to support the recruitment and retention of providers in order to build a future child care workforce and make long-term investments in child care providers. The provision also authorizes the Department of Defense to enter into an interagency partnership with a federal agency, such as AmeriCorps, to place national service participants and volunteers trained in education services at military child care centers.

The provision is based on bipartisan legislation Shaheen co-leads with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), the Expanding Access to Child Care for Military Families Act, to support workforce development opportunities for child care providers and to add capacity to the child care sector.

Addressing Service Members and Military Families’ Quality of Life:

To help service members and their families navigate the nation’s housing affordability crisis, Shaheen secured an amendment in the NDAA to improve DoD’s financial counseling offerings. To ensure service members learn about fees and other costs associated with homebuying, the provision allows Service Secretaries to work with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counselors and other qualified counselors to help service members and families.

Bolstering Mental Health Resources and Responses:

Shaheen helped secure a provision in line with her National Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team (ACERT) Grant Program Authorization Act directing the DoD to study and report on establishing a program to address adverse childhood experiences associated with exposure to trauma by connecting law enforcement and first responders with local child specialists and professionals.

The legislation also includes Shaheen’s amendment to address the shortage of quality, accessible mental and behavioral health care for service members. Her provision requires DoD to assess where there are shortages in providers and the impact of those staffing shortages on service members. 

Investing in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and New England’s Shipbuilding Workforce

Senator Shaheen built on her long legacy of support for New England’s shipbuilding industry and workforce, including through authorizing funding and workforce development for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The Committee-approved FY26 NDAA includes full authorization for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) investments at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which will expand the Shipyard’s capacity to maintain America’s fast-attack submarine fleet. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, Senator Shaheen helped secure this funding beginning in the fiscal year 2019 funding legislation, which she has continued in ensuing years.

Shaheen also helped to authorize funding for increased reliability, resiliency and capacity to the existing electric and water utility systems primarily responsible for the nuclear support facilities at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Additionally, the bill authorizes $26 million for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art Readiness Center to support the New Hampshire National Guard in Plymouth, New Hampshire.

In addition, the bill reauthorizes funding for Virginia-class submarines, which are repaired at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Shaheen is a steadfast supporter of the Virginia-class program and is a fierce advocate for Shipyard priorities.

Shaheen also secured a provision aimed at improving the quality of life and bolstering recruitment and retention of employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the country's three other public shipyards. The Shaheen amendment requires DoD to assess the feasibility, costs and benefits of providing civilian employees with apartment-style or dormitory housing options.  Shaheen also secured report language to encourage DoD to explore the feasibility of low-interest loans for maritime industrial base (MIB) suppliers. 

Finally, the bill includes Shaheen’s legislation to extend direct hire authority to the Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair (SUPSHIP), which will give Navy the ability to fill these positions quickly, address workforce delays and reduce delays in submarine construction and maintenance.

Supporting Americans Affected by Directed Energy Attacks

Senator Shaheen built on her progress to ensure that all U.S. personnel and their loved ones suffering from anomalous health incidents (AHIs) – also known as “Havana Syndrome” or directed-energy attacks – get the medical attention they deserve. Shaheen successfully secured a provision that encourages the Department of Defense to supply the cross-functional team addressing AHIs with the resources that they need to provide those affected with necessary treatment and timely compensation under the Helping American Victims Affected by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act of 2021. The amendment also urges the Department to redouble its efforts to identify emerging directed energy threats, understand their origin and develop countermeasures to defend against them.

Shaheen has been a leader in supporting American public servants who have incurred AHIs. In October 2021, President Biden signed legislation Shaheen helped lead, the Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA Act), into law. The law authorizes financial support to ensure medical care for those affected by AHIs. In the FY21 NDAA, Shaheen successfully included language to expand a provision in law that she previously wrote to provide long-term, emergency care benefits to all U.S. government employees and their dependents who were mysteriously injured while working in China and Cuba.

Bolstering Congressional Oversight and Reining in Wasteful Spending

In this year’s NDAA, Senator Shaheen secured several provisions to assert Congress’s oversight authority over the Trump administration and prohibit wasteful spending, including the use of Department of Defense resources for immigration enforcement activities. The bill requires DoD to notify Congress before using military airlift for immigration enforcement purposes and expands existing notifications to include requests for assistance in support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at Guantanamo Bay. In the first five months of migrant operations at Guantanamo Bay, DoD has already spent over $40 million providing non-reimbursable support to DHS.

Additionally, Shaheen included language in the NDAA urging DoD not to downgrade the U.S. Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay to a clinic. The hospital is the only source of health care for the over 6,000 active duty personnel, DoD civilians, family members, contract personnel and local and foreign national employees stationed at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay (NSGB).

The provisions come after Shaheen joined a Congressional delegation to Guantanamo Bay in March of this year after the Pentagon refused to answer Congressional oversight questions on its support to DHS’s new migrant operations there.

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