Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement on House passage of H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27 NDAA):
“The NDAA has traditionally passed on a bipartisan basis to bolster our national security, international diplomacy and global leadership. These goals, however, cannot come at the expense of the essential domestic services used by millions across our country. While I support military modernization and quality of life improvements for our servicemembers and their families, I cannot support a bill that massively expands our military’s budget as millions of Americans lose their access to health care, food assistance and other vital programs.
“As America faces a cost-of-living crisis across the board and our constituents find it increasingly difficult to afford day-to-day life, this bill authorizes $1.15 trillion in discretionary spending for the Department of Defense, National Nuclear Security Agency and other programs. This comes at a time when people face impossible decisions between putting food on the table, paying for their rent or mortgage, keeping their health insurance and more. Republicans’ attempt to increase military funding by more than $250 billion compared to the previous fiscal year also comes amidst a war of choice in Iran that seemingly has no clear goal or exit strategy. As the American people pay the price at the gas pump and beyond and our servicemembers are asked to make the ultimate sacrifice, a vote to funnel more money into a war that has cost at least 17 U.S. servicemembers’ lives and billions of dollars would only rubberstamp the President’s agenda to keep us in a forever war with no end in sight.
“All of this would be bad enough on its own. But House Republicans have further tainted the NDAA with poison pills that play more into culture wars and partisan games than investment in our military and those who serve. They pushed for Section 219 to expand and merge American and Israeli defense capabilities, a provision that undermines our sovereignty and lacks any form of oversight. They continued their assault on the LGBTQ+ community by targeting trans servicemembers. And they attached the NDAA to the SAVE America Act, a modern-day poll tax that only makes it harder for people to vote.
“Virginia is home to multiple military installations and thousands of servicemembers, all of whom work to make our nation safer and more secure. I have always fought for and will continue to support policies to improve their quality of life — but we can and must do more to protect those already left vulnerable by Republicans’ devastating cuts. I urge the Senate to curb the excesses of House Republicans and the Trump Administration and will continue to fight for the people they continually neglect.”