U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released a statement after Senate Democrats blocked the consideration of 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 expressed disappointment with 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.”
She criticized Democrats for what she described as partisan actions. “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,” Collins said.
According to Collins, the defense appropriations legislation would provide full-year funding to deter adversaries, strengthen the defense industrial base, and invest in shipbuilding. She highlighted that the bill includes funding for an additional DDG-51 destroyer and investments in Columbia and Virginia class submarines, which would benefit Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The legislation also includes full funding for a 3.8 percent pay raise for service members, as approved in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
Collins further stated, “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.”
She called for an end to what she described as brinkmanship: “Let us abandon this brinkmanship and vote to reopen government and continue our work to pass the annual appropriations bills.”
