Pocan Says ‘No’ to Nearly $1 Trillion NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), co-chair of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, released the following statement after voting against House passage of the $886.3 billion FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a bill he has never voted in favor of since being elected to Congress:

“It’s time to ask how much is too much. With the Pentagon's budget closing in on $1 trillion, the real cost of war is clear: underfunded programs here at home and a lower quality of life for everyday Americans, while defense contractors get richer and richer from their Pentagon contracts.”

“After six failed audits, the lack of accountability is outrageous. I’m glad the amendment I wrote with Reps. Lee (CA), Biggs, and Crane was included in the House-passed NDAA, which would penalize the DoD’s budget by 0.5% for each failed audit. It’s time Congress demanded accountability from the Pentagon. Now it’s time to prioritize the needs of our citizens over unchecked military expenditures.”

Earlier this week, Pocan, along with Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), released an in-depth video on the influence of defense contractors in Washington. The video can be found here.