SIGNED INTO LAW: Annual Defense Bill with Key Hassan-Backed Provisions & New Hampshire Priorities

WASHINGTON – President Trump signed into law the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which included key provisions that Senator Maggie Hassan helped secure and supported. Among other measures, the legislation protects Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees from the Trump Administration’s chaotic firings.

“Service members and defense workers sacrifice to keep our country safe, secure, and free, and we must always have their backs,” said Senator Hassan. “I’m glad that President Trump has signed into law this bipartisan defense bill, which will help protect Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees from the Trump Administration’s disruptive workforce reductions and advance other key priorities for New Hampshire and our service members.”

Key measures that Senator Hassan supported that are included in the Senate-passed NDAA include:

• A provision Senators Shaheen and Hassan helped secure to protect Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees, and other public shipyard employees, from the Trump Administration’s chaotic firings by prohibiting the Department of Defense from carrying out reductions in force, hiring freezes, and unfounded hiring delays at our nation’s public shipyards

• A 3.8% pay raise for service members

• Authorizes funding for Virginia-class submarines, which are repaired in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

• Authorizes funding for construction projects for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Pease Air National Guard Base, and the New Hampshire Army National Guard

• Extends support for the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom against Vladimir Putin

• Protects American national security by constraining the ability of the President to unilaterally withdraw troops and equipment standing guard against Russia in Europe

Senator Hassan is focused on keeping our country safe, secure, and free. Last year, she successfully passed into law critical measures in the annual defense bill, including a measure to help National Guard and Reserve members return to school after a mobilization or deployment. Senator Hassan has also been a champion of workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and has spoken out against the Trump Administration’s cuts and its hiring freeze at the Shipyard, which were later reversed.

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