Senator Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is promoting federal investments in Georgia's military infrastructure, including new construction at Fort Benning and enhancements at Fort Stewart, despite having voted against the annual Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) appropriations bill that provided the funding.
Ossoff's campaign has pointed to the improvements as direct results of his work as the senior Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. His office stated that Georgia's 2026 military construction budget, the highest in 15 years, is "a direct and undeniable result of Senator Ossoff's work."
Among the projects highlighted are the replacement of Dexter Elementary School at Fort Benning, improved conditions at Fort Stewart, and pay raises for military personnel. Ossoff's campaign also linked his advocacy to improvements in the state's foster care system, which were included in the legislation.
During the legislative process, Ossoff voted in favor of the MilCon-VA bill in committee and as a standalone measure. However, he ultimately opposed the bill's final passage when it was bundled with other government funding legislation. The package he voted against included $8 million for Fort Stewart and $127.4 million for the Fort Benning elementary school.
Ossoff's office defended his actions by contrasting his support for military funding with the policies of his Republican challenger, Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga. They stated Ossoff "makes no apology for having tried to stop Mike Collins from doubling premiums for more than a million Georgians and throwing 300,000 off their health insurance," referring to Republican-backed caps on federal health subsidies at the time of the bill's passage.
This approach mirrors past instances where Ossoff has claimed credit for legislation he did not directly sponsor or vote for. For example, he promoted a veterans' housing bill on his website, describing it as "bipartisan bill backed by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff," despite not being a sponsor and the bill passing by unanimous consent, meaning he did not cast a vote on it.
Representative Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., criticized Ossoff's pattern, stating, "A politician who tries to erase a veteran’s work for political gain has forfeited the trust of the people he seeks to represent." Van Orden added, "Ossoff’s disturbing pattern of taking credit for work he didn’t do and claiming victories he didn’t support demonstrates both gross incompetence and a complete lack of integrity."
Ossoff's career has seen him navigate competitive elections in Georgia. He won his Senate seat in 2021 with a narrow victory over Republican incumbent David Perdue, securing 50.6% of the vote. His campaign has emphasized his efforts to secure federal funding for military bases and personnel in the state, framing these as crucial for military readiness and the well-being of service members and their families.
Ossoff has also voiced concerns regarding conditions on military bases, including lead exposure, mold contamination, and flooded living areas, particularly at Fort Stewart. He released a report detailing these issues and has stated his commitment to exposing mistreatment of military families in privatized housing and advocating for improved conditions.