Why It Matters

Hampton Roads industrial base cannot expand fast enough to meet surging Pentagon demand for ships and trained workers. Newport News Shipbuilding needs 16,000 additional workers over the next decade, yet naval shipyards lose 20-22 percent of their workforce annually.

The Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance is lobbying Congress for federal investment in training infrastructure, shipyard modernization, and expanded military education programs. A legislative solution means securing funding in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act for the F-22 Formal Training Unit at Langley Air Force Base, Department of Defense training range enhancements, and shipyard optimization. The timing is favorable: Pentagon leaders have made shipbuilding expansion a top priority, and there is bipartisan congressional support for revitalizing the domestic maritime industrial base.

By the Numbers

The Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance paid the Roosevelt Group $120,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025 for lobbying services. The Alliance has spent over $9.08 million across 76 lobbying disclosures since 2006, with the Roosevelt Group accounting for $6.12 million across 52 filings since 2013.

The Roosevelt Group deploys five registered lobbyists on HRMFFA’s behalf. Matthew Harrington Herrmann served over 10 years on Capitol Hill (2007-2019), including as Chief of Staff for Delegate Madeleine Bordallo on the House Armed Services Committee. John M. Simmons worked in the House (2001-2003) as Legislative Systems Director for Rep. Jim Walsh, an Appropriations Committee member.

The Agenda

The alliance is pushing hard on defense spending priorities, lobbying on the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act and related appropriations bills. Key targets include securing the F-22 Formal Training Unit at Langley Air Force Base, enhancing Department of Defense training ranges, promoting shipyard optimization, and supporting unmanned systems research.

The alliance’s focus mirrors broader congressional momentum. Lawmakers have authorized $26 billion for shipbuilding in FY2026, with specific provisions for carrier and submarine production flexibility. The SHIPS for America Act and Save Our Shipyards Act aim to strengthen the domestic maritime industrial base through financial incentives and workforce development.

Notably, Virginia’s Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs also employs the Roosevelt Group on identical issues, suggesting coordinated state and regional advocacy targeting Congress on defense industrial base priorities.

Broader Context

Hampton Roads’ military facilities are benefiting from aligned policy momentum. Congress has authorized $26 billion for shipbuilding in FY2026, with flexibility for block buys that directly benefit Newport News Shipbuilding. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an ambitious "Golden Fleet" program involving historic shipbuilding investments.

Geopolitical pressure strengthens HRMFFA’s position. China’s naval forces are projected to reach 435 ships by 2030, elevating Hampton Roads’ strategic importance in Pentagon planning.

Congressional champions including Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) have secured major wins for Hampton Roads, while bipartisan senators are protecting shipyard workforces, creating receptive audiences for HRMFFA’s advocacy.

Between The Lines

Congress is actively advancing defense spending priorities that align with HRMFFA’s lobbying agenda. The SHIPS for America Act and Save Our Shipyards Act specifically target shipyard modernization—HRMFFA’s core priority—through financial incentives and workforce development.

Congressional committees have validated HRMFFA’s priorities through multiple hearings on strengthening America’s defense industrial base and reviving U.S. commercial shipbuilding. These forums highlighted workforce shortages and supply chain challenges that underscore the need for federal investment in Hampton Roads’ maritime industrial capacity.

Competitive Landscape

HRMFFA operates within a well-organized regional advocacy ecosystem alongside the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. Both organizations have retained the Roosevelt Group on identical issues, suggesting coordinated state-regional strategy.

The Roosevelt Group represents competing regional military alliances including the Louisiana Armed Forces Alliance and Utah Defense Alliance, all pursuing similar defense appropriations goals. Within Hampton Roads’ specific areas, the Southern Maryland Naval Alliance competes for similar federal resources on military construction and unmanned systems initiatives.

The Bottom Line

The Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance is maintaining steady pressure on defense priorities, paying $120,000 quarterly to advance shipyard modernization and military training infrastructure. The Alliance’s focus on FY26 defense appropriations aligns with current congressional momentum around revitalizing domestic shipbuilding and addressing military workforce shortages. While HRMFFA’s spending represents substantial resources, it reflects a decade-long engagement rather than aggressive policy expansion.

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