Golden wins NDAA amendment to block Pentagon from sending U.S. shipbuilding jobs overseas

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy would be forced to scrap its plans to send shipbuilding jobs overseas under a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sponsored by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and approved by the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) early this morning. Golden also secured funding for an additional destroyer to be built in Maine at Bath Iron Works.

Golden, a member of HASC, voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2027 NDAA after a marathon markup overnight. The legislation authorizes $1.15 trillion in spending for the Department of Defense and other national security priorities. The bill now heads to the House floor. 

“American military spending should support American jobs. The idea that we would build any portion of our surface fleet on foreign soil with foreign labor is unconscionable,” Golden said. “I am grateful to my colleagues on the committee for seeing this plan for what it is: A threat to American industry, jobs and national security.”

HASC approved two of Golden’s amendments to the NDAA before voting the bill out of committee. Those include: 

1. An amendment blocking the U.S. Navy’s offshoring plans. The amendment added language to specify that none of the funds authorized to be appropriated for the Navy in FY27 may be obligated or expended to enter into a contract for the procurement of a battle force ship to be built in a foreign yard. 
   1. Background: In May, Rep. Golden questioned Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao about the Navy’s proposal to send shipbuilding jobs overseas and pledged to stop it (video, press release).
       
2. An amendment to authorize additional funds to ensure construction of a DDG-51 destroyer at Bath Iron Works (BIW): This amendment increased funding for a second DDG-51, to be built at BIW, by $500 million. This brings the total funding for the destroyer to $1 billion. It also allows incremental funding, which will keep shipbuilders working at BIW.  
   1. Background: In April, Rep. Golden questioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about why the Pentagon’s budget proposal cuts procurement of this proven “workhorse” down to a single ship (video, press release), and failed to include multi-year procurement of destroyers. In committee, Golden advocated for — and won — authorization for a second ship, to be built at BIW, and for multi-year procurement necessary to ensure the destroyers are built well into the future. 

A third amendment by Golden would have closed a loophole in military purchasing rules known as the Berry Amendment, which requires all troop apparel be manufactured in the United States from domestically sourced materials. The loophole allows troops to purchase additional footwear that is not compliant with the Berry Amendment, undermining troop readiness and American manufacturers.

Golden’s amendment would have required that all boots worn by U.S. troops comply with the Berry Amendment’s made-in-America requirements. Despite supporting the same amendment unanimously in committee last year, members of HASC changed their votes and defeated it this year, siding with private equity-owned corporations who produce footwear overseas.

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