Casten Statement on Voting Against the NDAA for FY 2026
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026:
“Since the start of the second Trump Administration, we have seen the president use the United States military in American cities for domestic law enforcement. He has taken unilateral military action – such as launching military strikes abroad and in the Caribbean – without the consent of Congress. He has fired qualified, dedicated public servants who kept our country safe and secure.
“He has done all of this with a rubber stamp from the Supreme Court that has ruled he is immune from the consequences of his actions and a Republican-led Congress that is unwilling to hold him accountable for violating the Constitution.
“The FY26 National Defense Authorization Act was an opportunity for Congress to conduct its oversight responsibilities and serve as a check on an authoritarian executive branch. House Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to do so. Instead, they transformed the NDAA into a hyper-partisan bill that abandons the longstanding tradition of Congress putting the interests and defense of our country above politics.
“I remain ready to support a bipartisan NDAA that serves the needs of our service members and strengthens our national security. The bill considered by the House today did not accomplish that goal, and that is why I voted No.”
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