Kaine Statement on Committee Passage of Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Ranking Member of the SASC Subcommittee on Seapower, released the following statement regarding SASC's passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

"I've been on the Senate Armed Services Committee since 2013, and every year, I look forward to working with my colleagues to craft an annual defense bill that supports those in uniform and protects our national security. There's a lot of good in this year's legislation-including provisions I pushed for to give our servicemembers a raise, upgrade Virginia's military installations, invest in shipbuilding, and strengthen the AUKUS agreement. But I can't in good conscience vote to advance a bill that helps clear the way for over $1.5 trillion in Pentagon funding at a time when the Trump-Vance Administration is waging an illegal and foolish war in the Middle East that is hurting our servicemembers and crushing Americans at the pump. Rather than taking steps to end this deeply unpopular war, this bill rebrands the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a juvenile move that sadly describes the reality of a President who has abandoned meaningful diplomacy in favor of starting doubtful wars in multiple locations and threatening even more. As glad as I am about portions of this bill, I remain laser-focused on ending the Iran War, not rewarding the Pentagon by authorizing a blank check for more of it. Unless this war ends, or Congress votes to authorize it, I will remain a 'no' on this legislation when it comes before the full Senate for a vote."

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