Congressman Jared Golden Secures Funding for Maine Shipbuilding and Manufacturing in National Defense Authorization Act

Strategic Insights -

Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) successfully secured several provisions in the House's Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act and Department of Defense Appropriations Act that would steer billions of federal dollars to support Maine manufacturing. Major wins for Maine secured in these bills, including funding for two of the DDG-51 destroyers and a requirement that military footwear be sourced from domestic producers, such as the New Balance factory in Skowhegan. Golden's amendments specifically addressing shipbuilding were last-minute inclusions following weeks of advocacy by Golden.

Key Takeaways:

  • Congressman Jared Golden secured $13 billion in shipbuilding funding for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which will provide support for Maine shipbuilding and manufacturing jobs.
  • Golden's amendments, including funding for two DDG-51 destroyers, were last-minute inclusions in the bill, making it a significant win for Maine's shipbuilding industry.
  • The bill requires the military's combat footwear to be manufactured in the U.S. with entirely domestic materials, as mandated by Golden's bipartisan Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTs) Act.
  • The BOOTs Act is backed by numerous textile manufacturers and trade organizations, including New Balance, which employs over 600 workers in Maine.
  • The NDAA also includes a 3.8% pay raise for all service members, $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, $600 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and $70 million for the Apex Accelerators program.
  • More than 760 Maine businesses received assistance from Maine APEX in FY24, winning 2,291 contract awards worth over $2.5 billion cumulatively.

Statistics:

  • $13 billion in shipbuilding funding for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act
  • $2.91 billion in funding for two DDG-51 destroyers
  • Over 600 workers employed by New Balance in Maine
  • 3.8% pay raise for all service members
  • $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative
  • $600 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative
  • $70 million in funding for the Apex Accelerators program
  • 2,291 contract awards worth over $2.5 billion cumulatively won by Maine businesses assisted by Maine APEX in FY24

Sources:

  • Golden, J. (2023). Golden wins funding in defense bills to support jobs in Maine shipbuilding, manufacturing. Retrieved from
  • General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. (2023). Bath Iron Works Statement on FY26 NDAA. Retrieved from
  • International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). (2023). IAM Applauds Congressman Jared Golden's Work on Behalf of Workers at Bath Iron Works. Retrieved from