2 New Jersey Congress Members Vote On Huge Military Spending Bill

The federal government’s latest military spending bill survived a key vote from a House committee this week, getting a thumbs-up from two Congress members in New Jersey along the way.

U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Donald Norcross (NJ-1) each voted “yes” during a markup of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Tuesday night. The bill passed a committee vote by a tally of 55-2.

The legislation would authorize $848.2 billion in Defense Department funding, which is in line with the levels requested by the Trump administration. It includes a 3.8 percent pay increase for all servicemembers, adds $100 million for Ukraine, raises the fleet size of U.S. Air Force mobility aircraft and includes $1 billion for submarine procurement.

The bill will now head to the House floor for further review. The U.S. Senate advanced its own version of the NDAA last week, which would add $32 billion to the bill’s top line.

Congress rolls out a new version of the bill each year to establish defense priorities, make organizational shifts to military posture, and provide direction on how military funding can be spent. The “must pass” legislation typically sees several changes and amendments before a final version is agreed upon by the Senate and House of Representatives. Separate appropriations bills with matching dollar figures must also be passed for the increases to become a reality. Congress has greenlighted the bill every year for more than six consecutive decades.

There have been both cheers and jeers for the current levels of military spending from New Jersey lawmakers and residents.

Some say that a well-funded NDAA strengthens national security, supports servicemembers and creates jobs. But critics question whether the nation’s rising military budget is a good use of taxpayer money at a time when every penny counts.

Last year, the final version of the NDAA got “yes” votes from only half of New Jersey’s U.S. House members – a lower total than previous years.

• Read More: Half Of NJ House Members Vote Against Huge Military Spending Bill
• Read More: U.S. Military Budget Gets ‘No’ Vote From Booker, Kim In New Jersey

Sherrill and Norcross – both Democrats – are the two New Jersey representatives currently serving on the House Armed Services Committee, which conducts annual “markup” hearings for the NDAA.

Watch video footage from the July 15 hearing below (article continues underneath):

Norcross gave a thumbs-up after the vote this week, saying that it was “great to pass another NDAA out of committee.”

The congressman noted that he introduced an amendment that would prevent "illegal union-busting" in the Department of Defense.

Sherrill – a former Navy helicopter pilot who is running for New Jersey governor – likewise applauded the vote, although she also criticized the Trump administration’s latest plan to “gut the Department of Defense’s civilian workforce.”

The initiative, which was announced in March, is part of a larger plan to rebuild the military to “meet current and future demands,” according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Sherrill said that more than $20 million in additional funding has been secured for the Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County and the “New Jersey innovation economy” as part of this week’s markup.

The congresswoman took a dig at a key member of the Trump administration in explaining her “yes” vote.

“One of my chief responsibilities is to craft national defense legislation that strengthens our fighting forces across the globe, bolsters the New Jersey economy by investing in Picatinny Arsenal, and expands protections for our service members and their families,” Sherrill said.

“With Pete Hegseth, the most incompetent Secretary of Defense in history, leading our armed forces, it’s more important than ever that we pass commonsense legislation that invests in our fighting forces and the men and women who have stepped up to serve our country,” she charged.

Sherrill noted that she introduced 12 amendments to the NDAA during this week’s markup, including a clause that would repeal Section 1093 of Title X, which prohibits the Department of Defense from providing abortion services in most cases.

On the flip side of the political aisle, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers – a Republican from Alabama who serves as the committee’s chair – said the NDAA “cuts red tape, eliminates bureaucratic hurdles and encourages innovation.”

“This legislation builds on the wins from the One Big, Beautiful Bill – revitalizing our defense industrial base, improving our servicemembers’ quality of life, and building out our readiness capabilities,” Rogers said.

• See Related: Sherrill, McIver, Menendez Jr. Vote Against Trump-Backed ‘Beautiful Bill’
• See Related: Booker, Kim Vote Against Senate Budget Bill, Trump Cheers Its Passage

The sentiment was not returned by U.S. Rep. Jacobs, one of two California Democrats to vote “no” on the NDAA alongside U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna.

“Like so many Americans, I’m horrified and disturbed by President Trump’s abuse of the military to silence dissent, intimidate immigrant communities, and assist in domestic law enforcement,” Jacobs said.

“The military-civilian divide is a bedrock of our democracy, intended to protect civil rights and liberties and prevent the emergence of an authoritarian police state,” Jacobs continued. “In Los Angeles, we’ve already seen the military – at President Trump’s urging – use excessive force, commit questionable detentions, wield intimidation tactics, and violate people’s legal rights. This is only a glimpse of what could happen nationwide if President Trump invokes the Insurrection Act and turns U.S. troops on civilians. And our service members deserve better than to be used as political pawns in President Trump’s authoritarian games.”

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