Elfreth Votes No on Annual Defense Authorization Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted against the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on the House floor. Elfreth also voted against the legislation in Committee last month. The legislation ultimately passed 216-212.

"As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have a great appreciation for the tireless bipartisan effort that goes into crafting the National Defense Authorization Act and the impact it has on our men and women in uniform. I have spent much of my first term in Congress finding avenues in this bill to strengthen installation readiness, lower costs for servicemembers, support our military families, advance health care and medical research, invest in the shipbuilding industry, modernize our cybersecurity, and so much more," said Congresswoman Elfreth. "Despite the advancements we secured in this legislation, we cannot ignore the larger context of this bill and this moment. I could not vote to authorize $1.15 trillion for the Department of Defense as this Administration wages an unjustified, unconstitutional war with Iran with no end in sight. I could not vote in support of the hateful culture wars that House Republicans inserted into this traditionally bipartisan legislation. I could not vote on a bill that places virtually no checks on an Administration and Department of Defense that continues to put our servicemembers in harm's way and spends untold and unchecked billions of taxpayer dollars. That is why I once again voted no on this year's defense authorization bill."

Elfreth worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strengthen the legislation in support of our servicemembers. In all, 23 of Elfreth's provisions were included in the base text of the NDAA, and Elfreth successfully introduced 20 provisions as amendments, including two floor amendments to study reserve child care programs and to develop a domestic critical mineral workforce. Elfreth also landed $86 million to protect the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis from the impacts of flooding and sea-level rise - a larger earmark than any other freshman lawmaker.

Elfreth spoke on the House floor against two amendments that would block international students from attending U.S. Service Academies and prohibit the use of funds for Ukraine security assistance. You can view her remarks by CLICKING HERE and HERE.

Elfreth-led priorities in the NDAA and her first statement on voting no on the legislation in Committee can be referenced HERE.

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