Rep. Chu Votes No on FY2026 NDAA over Harmful Provisions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) voted against S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which passed the House by a vote of 312-112, and released the following statement:

"I could not in good conscience support this year's NDAA. Our service members deserve a defense bill that strengthens our military and supports their families, not one that strips away rights, fails to constrain the Trump administration's abuse of the military, and injects partisan politics into our armed forces.

"This bill includes deeply troubling provisions that promote discrimination and dismantle diversity efforts that help ensure every qualified service member can serve with dignity and respect. It also rejects expanded access to IVF for TRICARE beneficiaries, denying access to this reproductive health care for military families who sacrifice so much in service to our country. This bill also includes anti-labor provisions that undermine civilian employees' collective bargaining rights. These provisions do nothing to strengthen our national defense. Instead, they weaken morale, damage recruitment and retention, and betray the fundamental principle that every service member deserves equal treatment and respect.

"Further, this NDAA authorizes a record-breaking level of funding for the Department of Defense, which remains the only federal agency unable to pass an audit. And while I am relieved that Democrats succeeded in mandating transparency into the administration's unconstitutional deadly strikes on boats in international waters, it does not prevent Secretary Hegseth from continuing this unexplained and unjustified campaign. And though today a federal judge ruled that the President's National Guard deployment in Los Angeles is illegal, this NDAA nevertheless fails to stop the administration's ever-expanding deployments of servicemembers in American cities around the country.

"For these reasons, I voted no."