Sen. Susan Collins Boosts Maine Defense Shipbuilding

Senator Susan Collins has used her Senate position to secure additional defense funding that benefits Maine’s shipbuilding sector, particularly Bath Iron Works (BIW). While the Pentagon initially requested two DDG‑51 destroyers, Congress approved three, an extra $1 billion that Collins says benefits the local shipyard, which employs about 6,800 people. She has also directed earmarked money to the region, including a $1 million 2024 study on worker transportation and a proposed $4 million 2027 effort to develop affordable housing for shipyard staff. Additional appropriations have funded wage enhancements and restricted the use of non‑local engines for the F‑35, favoring Pratt & Whitney’s North Berwick plant.

Collins’ campaign has received modest contributions from defense contractors such as RTX’s Pratt & Whitney ($81,500) and General Dynamics, the owner of BIW ($74,000). As Maine voters consider her 2026 re‑election, her opponent, combat veteran Graham Platner, says he would continue to support state employers but push for a procurement shift toward smaller surface combatants that could also be built at BIW.