Shaheen Statement on 2025 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Economic Impact Report

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee , issued the following statement in response to the release of the Seacoast Shipyard Association’s Annual Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Economic Impact Report for 2025: “Portsmouth Naval Shipyard plays a key role in the Navy’s readiness while fueling our local economy. This year’s economic impact report is the latest example of how the Shipyard creates thousands of jobs, strengthens our Seacoast communities and promotes investments that power economies across New England. “As Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I see firsthand how the Shipyard’s work is critical to ensuring the U.S. is well equipped to deter aggression from adversaries. I have been proud to offer my unwavering support to the Shipyard and its workforce throughout my time in the Senate, and I look forward to the continued impact PNSY will make in the years to come.” As a co-chair of the U.S. Senate Navy Caucus and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and Armed Services Committee, Senator Shaheen has been New Hampshire’s strongest advocate for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the New England shipbuilding industry. Recently, Shaheen led the Maine and New Hampshire Congressional delegations in raising concerns around a new proposed rule that would weaken civil service protections and undermine workers’ rights at the Shipyard. Shaheen also called for the Trump Administration to explain its refusal to process an Unfair Labor Practice charge (ULP) filed by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council on behalf of its members. In the Committee-approved Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the enacted FY 26 NDAA , Shaheen secured full authorization for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program investments at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Shaheen’s provision to exempt employees from all four public shipyards from OPM’s civilian hiring freeze and any future hiring freezes or reductions in force was included in the FY 2026 NDAA and extended in the Committee-passed FY 27 NDAA. She also secured a number of other provisions to increase capacity at the Shipyard and improve quality of life. ###