Senate Democrats on Thursday voted to block consideration of the fiscal year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill, prompting sharp criticism from Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Collins said the defense funding bill had advanced out of committee on a bipartisan 26-3 vote and would provide key resources for the nation’s military and defense industrial base. She called the vote to block it “partisan games” that undermine national security and the well-being of U.S. service members.
The legislation includes full-year defense funding aimed at deterring adversaries, strengthening the industrial base and investing in shipbuilding. It also includes funding for an additional DDG-51 destroyer, as well as investments in Columbia- and Virginia-class submarines — programs that directly benefit Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Importantly, the bill would fully fund a 3.8% pay raise approved last week as part of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
Collins said Democrats’ refusal to move the defense spending bill forward prolongs what she called the “Schumer shutdown,” which has kept the federal government closed for more than two weeks. She warned that continued delays could further hamper U.S. defense capabilities while rivals like China and Russia expand theirs.
“Let us abandon this brinkmanship and vote to reopen government and continue our work to pass the annual appropriations bills,” Collins said.
