Pocan Rejects FY26 Defense Bill as Costs Continue to Skyrocket

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), co-chair and co-founder of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, released the following statement after voting against final passage of the $890.6 billion FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill’s topline does not reflect the additional $150 billion added to the Pentagon’s budget through the Big Ugly Law this past July, pushing total military spending over $1 trillion for the first time. Rep. Pocan continues his streak of never having voted in favor of an NDAA since being elected to Congress in 2012.

“Once again, Congress is choosing to funnel exorbitant sums into a bloated defense department instead of investing in the everyday needs of working families, like housing, healthcare, and rising costs at the grocery store. The Pentagon remains the only major agency that continues to fail an audit year after year. Yet we keep writing essentially blank checks to defense contractors with little accountability and few results to show for it, while ignoring the needs of our troops who bravely serve our nation. Until lawmakers prioritize people over the Pentagon and demand real oversight, I will continue opposing these reckless, out-of-control defense bills.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.