Jared F. Golden

Golden announces support for ‘clean’ resolution to constrain military action in Iran

Position: Congressman Golden supports a clean war powers resolution to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran, arguing that the President's 60-day authority under the War Powers Act of 1973 has expired and Congressional approval is now required to continue military operations.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today announced he would vote in favor of a ‘clean’ war powers resolution to remove the United States from hostilities against Iran. One such resolution, H.Con.Res.86, sponsored by Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY-05), will become eligible for a floor vote as early as next week. “I have said since the start of this conflict that the War Powers Act of 1973 grants the president only 60 days to conduct military operations without an explicit authorization from Congress,” Golden said. “President Trump, like all his predecessors, has refused to recognize the limitations of the War Powers Act, but to me the law is clear. His window for unilateral military engagement has closed. Hostilities, including the use of the U.S. fleet to impose a blockade of Iranian ports, cannot legally continue unless the president seeks, and wins, Congressional approval.” H.Con.Res.86 will be the first clean war powers resolution eligible for a vote since the 60-day deadline for the president to seek Congressional authorization was surpassed on May 1. Golden has opposed prior resolutions in recognition that the administration had, to that point, met its obligations under the War Powers Act. Golden also announced that he will oppose a separate resolution, offered by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), that has been widely reported to be coming to the floor for a vote this week. That measure, H.Con.Res.75, was originally submitted on March 4 and would have reduced the deadline for Congressional authorization from 60 days to 30 days. This resolution was rendered moot one day after the 30-day deadline it sought to impose on the president. “I supported this resolution when it was introduced, but unfortunately its proposed 30-day deadline lacks any real meaning now that we are more than 70 days into this conflict,” Golden said. “It no longer passes the straight-face test. I look forward to voting for a clean, relevant resolution as soon as possible.” ### Issues: National Security and Servicemembers

Golden, Hinson introduce bipartisan bill to strengthen lobbying ban for senior government officials

Position: The release advocates for strengthening restrictions on senior executive branch officials' post-government lobbying activities, including a five-year ban on lobbying their former agency and a lifetime ban on lobbying foreign governments or foreign-controlled entities.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today reintroduced the bipartisan Promoting the Unbiased Role of Employees in the Executive Act (PURE Executive Act) with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02). The bipartisan bill imposes a five-year ban on senior executive branch employees from lobbying an agency where they had been employed. It also creates a lifetime ban on senior executive branch employees lobbying for foreign governments or companies tied to them. “Senior government officials’ decisions should be about serving their country — not how to position themselves for the most profitable, influential job possible after they leave civil service,” Golden said. “Further restricting these leaders from immediate lobbying gigs will help ensure they keep their eyes on the actual prize: better outcomes for working families.” “Washington insiders shouldn’t be able to leave their taxpayer-funded posts and use their status to immediately cash out and lobby their politician friends, and they should never be able to use sensitive U.S. intelligence to benefit a foreign adversary,” Hinson said. “This is exactly the kind of corruption Iowans sent me to Congress to root out – we have to drain the swamp and clean up Washington.” Current rules for executive branch officials leaving federal service are limited, allowing individuals to quickly begin lobbying the agency they just left or even lobby on behalf of foreign companies or governments. While some short-term bans can apply to certain officials — one year for some and two years for the most senior leaders — that moratorium has not meaningfully slowed the revolving door between the executive branch and high-paying lobbying jobs. Meanwhile, exemptions still remain for lobbying for foreign interests. The PURE Executive Act expands the lifetime foreign lobbying ban to include any foreign entity or corporations controlled by foreign governments, and implements a five-year ban from lobbying their former agency. Full text of the bill can be found here. ### Issues: Good Government, Anti-Corruption & Clean Elections

Golden wins President Trump’s support for extending moratorium on lobster, right whale regulations until 2035

Position: Golden advocates for extending a moratorium on federal regulations related to North Atlantic right whale protection in lobster fisheries until 2035, arguing that current regulations are based on flawed science and threaten Maine's lobster industry.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today won the support of the White House for his legislation to protect Maine’s lobstermen from new regulations related to the North Atlantic right whale until 2035. Golden in recent weeks has had several conversations with administration officials about the bill, H.R. 8509. The Trump administration announced its support for the bill in a Statement of Administration Policy released this afternoon. Golden worked with the Maine delegation and Governor Janet Mills to win the moratorium on industry-crippling new regulations — including potential fishery closures — in 2022 under President Joe Biden, but the freeze is scheduled to expire in 2028. Golden has long advocated for the federal government to extend the moratorium. “The need to protect Maine’s iconic lobster industry knows no party. I’m grateful for the President’s support for Maine’s lobstermen and hopeful that my colleagues in the House will join me in quickly passing this bill into law,” Golden said. “Before we enacted this moratorium, Maine’s lobster industry was on the verge of shutting down because of proposed regulations that were onerous and based on flawed science and hypothetical scenarios rather than the reality on the water. Extending the moratorium will give lobstermen and their communities stability and peace of mind, protect an industry worth half a billion dollars annually and give the government time to get the science right,” Golden said. Golden’s bill can be found here. The White House’s Statement of Administration Policy can be found here. ### Issues: Workers & Unions Maine's Heritage Industries

Golden urges Hegseth to pump brakes on planned Trump battleship

Position: Congressman Golden opposes the Pentagon's proposed $17 billion Trump-class battleship and urges the Secretary of Defense to prioritize continued production of the proven DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, citing historical failures of new Navy ship programs and the economic importance of sustained destroyer production at Bath Iron Works.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today cautioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over plans to rush a costly, unproven battleship while slowing production of the proven DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers built at Bath Iron Works. Hegseth appeared before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), on which Golden is a member, to present the Pentagon’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. While the plan cuts production of DDG-51s, it includes $17 billion for a new “Trump-class” battleship on a rushed timeline. “Everyone on this committee knows about the Navy’s struggles to successfully design, manage and field new classes of ships,” Golden said, citing the Littoral Combat Ships, Zumwalt-class destroyers and Constellation-class frigates — all of which had to be scrapped due to challenges such as cost overruns, design problems and scheduling delays. “Recent history is littered with failed Navy efforts to replace existing, successful programs that remain the best in class worldwide — including the Bath-built Arleigh Burke destroyers. This isn’t the failure of our shipbuilders or our sailors. It’s a failure by top brass to learn a simple lesson: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. My sincere hope is that Secretary Hegseth, the Navy and Congress will pump the brakes on this battleship and focus on producing ships we know can meet our needs today.” Bath Iron Works has built dozens of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr., which entered service earlier this month. Golden has long advocated, successfully, for multi-ship procurement in defense appropriations bills to ensure not only maritime combat readiness but stable demand for highly skilled, good-paying jobs at BIW. Hegseth himself called the destroyer the “workhorse” of the U.S. Navy when he visited BIW earlier this year and told shipbuilders that the Pentagon would “max out” on destroyer procurement. But the Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal requests just one DDG-51. Instead, it proposes construction of a new battleship named for the president with a price tag of $17 billion — enough to fund six DDG-51s. Golden noted that the Trump-class ship would be a return to a vessel style not used since WWII. Experts have raised questions about the proposed battleship’s ability to meet modern surface combatant needs, with one suggesting that the ship will never hit the water. “The proposed battleship is a high-risk, low-reward proposition and the cost will be high — not just for taxpayers, but for the lost opportunity to maintain the supply of destroyers proven to meet our surface fleet's needs,” Golden said. HASC will continue to consider the Pentagon’s budget request in the coming weeks. Video of Golden’s remarks can be viewed here. ### Issues: Workers & Unions National Security and Servicemembers

Maine Delegation Demands Answers from USPS for Failing to Pay Rockland Contractor More Than $349,000, Jeopardizing Mail Service for Maine Island Communities

WASHINGTON — Maine’s Congressional Delegation is calling on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to immediately resolve its payment issue with a Maine contractor that serves island communities. In a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden condemned USPS for failing to pay the Rockland-based Penobscot Island Air (PIA) more than $349,000 for mail-delivery service and demanded answers about why USPS has, according to PIA, repeatedly failed to make timely payments for several years. After PIA announced it would not make its scheduled deliveries on Tuesday in protest, USPS agreed Wednesday to immediately pay 25% of the outstanding balance, and PIA promptly resumed service. But questions and concerns still remain. “For decades, Penobscot Island Air has helped the USPS deliver essential mail to Maine’s island residents. We urge you to immediately resolve the outstanding back payments and provide clarification on how these payment lapses occurred, as well as how delays can be prevented in the future,” the delegation wrote. “From Matinicus to Vinalhaven, island communities in Maine rely on the USPS to pay bills, receive life-saving medications, and stay connected with friends and family. Penobscot Island Air is an indispensable bridge between the mainland and islands that helps the Postal Service fulfill its promise of reaching every American, even in the most rural communities.” USPS’s failure to pay PIA is the latest example of recent disruptions to mail delivery in Maine. Over the past several months, delegation offices have received hundreds of complaints from constituents about delayed and inconsistent deliveries—particularly in rural communities. Together, these issues underscore the importance of ensuring that USPS has the necessary resources and staff to fulfill its mission of providing all Americans with reliable, affordable, and universal mail service—and that its agreements with contractors like PIA are fully honored. The letter is available here and is copied below. +++ Dear Postmaster General Steiner: We write to seek clarification regarding reports of Penobscot Island Air’s (PIA) payment issues with the United States Postal Service (USPS). For decades, Penobscot Island Air has helped the USPS deliver essential mail to Maine’s island residents. We urge you to immediately resolve the outstanding back payments and provide an explanation of how these payment lapses occurred, as well as how delays can be prevented in the future. From Matinicus to Vinalhaven, island communities in Maine rely on the USPS to pay bills, receive life-saving medications, and stay connected with friends and family. Penobscot Island Air is an indispensable bridge between the mainland and islands that helps the Postal Service fulfill its promise of reaching every American, even in the most rural communities. On April 21, Penobscot Island Air alerted island residents that they would be halting mail deliveries for the day due to the back payments they are owed by the USPS. According to PIA, these back payments amount to over $349,000. While PIA had received partial payments for the balance, the last payment they received was on March 13. They had also made numerous attempts to resolve these payment issues through direct outreach to the USPS. The amount owed, the ongoing delay in payment, and the failure to resolve these issues in a timely fashion are alarming and unacceptable. Mail deliveries for the USPS account for almost a fifth of PIA’s annual revenue. We are concerned that PIA’s operations will continue to be disrupted without reliable processing of this critical stream of income. The USPS cannot afford to jeopardize a dedicated, decades-long partnership, and Maine island residents cannot afford any discontinuation in service, even for a few days. Penobscot Island Air is one of many contractors in the state that deliver mail to island communities by air and sea. This incident raises concerns over whether the USPS is faithfully fulfilling the terms of all these contracts. While it is promising to hear that the USPS has reached a partial payment agreement to pay Penobscot Island Air about 25% of its outstanding balance, we need greater assurance from the USPS that Maine island contractors will receive fair and prompt compensation for the services they provide. We respectfully request detailed answers to the following questions and ask that USPS continue to work urgently with Penobscot Island Air to resolve these back payments immediately and ensure that future payment processing is timely and consistent. What is the current balance of back payments USPS owes to Penobscot Island Air? Can you provide a timeline of the USPS payments to PIA over the past three years, including when payments were due and when they were paid? Can you provide an explanation for these delays in payment to PIA? What specific steps will the USPS take to prevent lapses in payment from occurring in the future and to ensure that payment is processed in a timely and consistent manner? Can you provide a list of all the USPS contractors in Maine who deliver mail to island communities? Do any other island contractors have balances owed to them by the USPS? Thank you for your attention to this time-sensitive issue. We look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, ###

Golden votes to extend protection from deportation for Haitians

Position: Golden voted to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals, arguing that allowing TPS to expire would endanger lives and create instability in Haiti, where armed gangs and drug traffickers control much of the country.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitian nationals until January 2029. Golden released the following statement: “Allowing TPS to expire would put lives at risk and create even greater instability in Haiti, threatening the security of the United States. Multiple administrations from both parties, as well as international bodies, have recognized the dangerous situation on the ground in Haiti, where armed gangs and drug traffickers effectively control most of the country. A mass deportation would effectively force Haitian immigrants with Temporary Protected Status to join these criminal organizations or be put in their crosshairs. It’s not an exaggeration to say that for many, it could be a death sentence. That’s just not who we are.” TPS designation was extended to Haiti in 2010 after the deadliest earthquake in the history of the Western hemisphere, which killed hundreds of thousands and displaced more than 1 million Haitians. Since then, crises have continued to rock the island nation. Last year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a “Do Not Travel” advisory due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest and limited health care. ###

Golden votes to protect U.S. negotiating position in Iran

Position: Congressman Golden opposes a war powers resolution that would withdraw U.S. military forces from the region, arguing that maintaining military presence is necessary to preserve U.S. negotiating leverage with Iran on nuclear policy and regional security issues during ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

WASHINGTON — As negotiations between the United States and Iran continue, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted against a war powers resolution that would weaken the U.S. position by withdrawing military forces from the region. Golden released the following statement: “The purported aim of this and other War Powers resolutions is to stop the hostilities. Thankfully, the United States and Iran are currently in a ceasefire, and we are negotiating over critical questions of national security and international order. I believe we must maintain a strong negotiation position over Iran’s nuclear program, freedom of movement in the international waters at the Strait of Hormuz, and how to achieve a durable peace between our two nations. At this moment, a resolution like this would weaken our hand.” ### Issues: National Security and Servicemembers

Golden votes against House Republicans’ DHS dodge

Position: Golden opposes the House Republican 60-day continuing resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security and advocates for passage of the Senate's bipartisan full-year appropriation bill instead.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted tonight against a 60-day Continuing Resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and urged House leadership to call a vote on the bipartisan, full-year appropriation approved earlier this week by the Senate. “For more than a month, the DHS shutdown has caused chaos at airports as TSA agents have gone without pay, while our Coast Guard and emergency agencies are undermined without funding from Congress,” Golden said. “I have voted for every bill to fund DHS since before the shutdown began, and I remain open to any serious proposal with a real path toward becoming law. I see no reason to believe this 60-day stopgap will pass the Senate anytime soon, so I could not support the House GOP’s effort to keep kicking the can down the road. The Senate passed a bipartisan compromise that ensures funding for every agency in DHS for the full fiscal year. It’s time for House Republicans to take the deal.” The Senate bill would fund all of DHS except for immigration agencies, which are already funded through the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Earlier this week, Golden signed a discharge petition to force a vote on a similar bill in the House of Representatives. ### Issues: Law Enforcement and Border Security

Golden, Collins, King demand IRS re-open Bangor and Augusta Tax Assistance Centers

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Jared Golden and U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King are calling on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to immediately reverse the closure of its Augusta and Bangor Tax Assistance Centers (TAC). TACs are physical offices which offer assistance to Mainers who lack stable internet access, need help navigating technology, or otherwise need in-person assistance. With the Presque Isle TAC having previously been shuttered and Downeast Maine long lacking its own TAC, some rural Mainers already traveled hundreds of miles to access the IRS’ services in Bangor. If the Bangor and Augusta offices — the only locations available in the Second District — were to remain closed, a resident of Fort Kent could face a roughly ten-hour, 600-mile trip to Maine’s only remaining TAC in South Portland. The trio recently contacted the IRS after receiving reports from constituents that the TACs they planned on using this filing season had closed. Following confirmation of the closures from the agency, the lawmakers are now making the case that rural Maine deserves the same quality of assistance as those living in the southern part of the state — especially for navigating the new tax provisions created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “TACs provide critical services to rural communities and seniors,” the lawmakers wrote. “...We ask that you restaff and re-open the TACs in Bangor and Augusta in a timely manner, and work with the Maine Congressional Delegation on a longer-term strategy to avoid future prolonged disruptions to these services in Maine.” In addition to asking for a long-term plan to re-open the Presque Isle TAC, the lawmakers are also pressing the IRS for answers on how the federal hiring freeze affected TAC staffing in Maine, whether Mainers who are unable to access tax assistance will receive an extended deadline to file, and what the agency’s plans are to help affected Mainers in the meantime. Last year, the IRS rolled back a previously scheduled closure of its Bangor TAC after outreach from Maine’s delegation. The full letter can be found here, and is included in full below: +++ March 10, 2026 The Honorable Scott Bessent Secretary and Acting IRS Commissioner U.S. Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20220 Dear Secretary Bessent: We write to share our concerns regarding the closures of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TAC) in Bangor and Augusta, Maine. TACs provide critical services to rural communities and seniors. Now, with the 2026 filing season in full swing, many of our constituents must travel for four and a half hours and over nearly 300 miles to Portland for in-person services. We urge you to reopen the Augusta and Bangor TACs without delay. Recently, the Maine Congressional Delegation received outreach from constituents reporting the closures of the Augusta and Bangor TACs. Previously, the Bangor TAC was at risk of closure in December 2024. The Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the IRS urging reconsideration of this decision. We deeply appreciate that the IRS ultimately kept the Bangor TAC in service through the 2025 filing season. However, unfortunately, we received confirmation from the IRS Office of Legislative Affairs that both the Bangor and Augusta TACs will be closed during this tax filing season, absent the rapid hiring and onboarding of new staff. South Portland is now the only city in Maine with a TAC that provides in-person services. Some of Maine’s most rural counties relied on the Bangor and Augusta TACs as their primary service center. Residents in Piscataquis County, which is 100 percent rural, regularly used Bangor and Augusta as their major service centers. Augusta was the closest TAC for residents of Washington County, the easternmost county in the United States, after the closure of the Bangor TAC. Washington County residents had to commute over two hours to Augusta to receive basic tax services and now will have to drive over three hours to South Portland. The same is true for Aroostook County, the second largest county east of the Mississippi River by total area, where some Mainers traveled over 200 miles to receive assistance from the Bangor TAC. Although the Office of Legislative Affairs indicated that taxpayers can use online resources, such as IRS.gov, for tax filing guidance in the interim, we fear that these resources may not be sufficient for taxpayers with complicated situations or those seeking to better understand the changes to the tax code as a result of the new tax provisions Congress approved last July in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Further, many of these communities have limited Internet and broadband access, making in-person TAC services essential. As you know, the Office of Management and Budget announced a federal government-wide freeze on hiring, which also affects the IRS. This hiring freeze does not have a clear end date, creating uncertainty for our constituents in the middle of tax season. For these reasons, we ask that you restaff and re-open the TACs in Bangor and Augusta in a timely manner, and work with the Maine Congressional Delegation on a longer-term strategy to avoid future prolonged disruptions to these services in Maine. In addition, the Congressional Delegation would also value the opportunity to work with you to find a long-term solution that would reopen the Presque Isle TAC in Aroostook County and ensure that it can sustainably provide in-person services. To get a better understanding of how the IRS plans to provide adequate taxpayer services to our constituents throughout this filing season and beyond, please provide us answers to the following questions by Tuesday, March 31st, 2026: Is the IRS committed to meeting the demand and providing the same level of service in person, online, and by phone? What is the IRS’s in-person assistance strategy? How many Mainers have utilized services at the following TACs since 2008? Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, Augusta, and South Portland. What steps is the Southern Portland TAC taking to meet increased volume of service inquiries, including those which are in-person that go beyond the services offered online and by telephone? Will residents be eligible for an extension to file their taxes if they are unable to receive in-person services at the South Portland TAC that goes beyond the automatic October 15th exemption that taxpayers can request? While the Bangor and Augusta TACs are closed, how does the IRS plan to provide sufficient taxpayer services to rural Mainers with limited or no broadband access? Did Treasury include TACs in their request for exemptions to the federal hiring freeze? If not, is there an indication when the federal hiring freeze will be lifted so the Bangor and Augusta TACs can be restaffed? Does the IRS have any plans to temporarily staff the Bangor and Augusta TACs in the interim? How can the IRS prevent future TAC closures that are a result of staffing shortages? What plans, if any, does the IRS have to expand TACs in Maine? Thank you for considering our request, and we appreciate your attention to this important matter. ### Issues: Good Government, Anti-Corruption & Clean Elections

Golden statement on War Powers resolution vote

Position: Congressman Golden opposes an immediate end to military operations in Iran but does not support sustained combat operations without congressional authorization. He advocates for a 30-day timeline for the president to justify ongoing military action and a prohibition on ground troop deployment without explicit congressional approval.

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted against a War Powers Resolution sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie (KY-04) and Ro Khanna (CA-17) that would have forced an immediate end of military operations in Iran. The resolution failed in a 212-219 vote. Golden has instead joined Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) to sponsor a resolution that would give President Donald Trump 30 days to end military action and prohibit the deployment of ground troops without explicit congressional authority. Golden released the following statement: “The president has not provided sufficient clarity for why this action was necessary at this exact moment. But servicemembers are actively engaged in hostilities, our allies are under attack and the Iranian regime is more desperate than ever to reassert its power. While I do not believe that an abrupt about-face is a good course of action given the reality on the ground, that should not be construed as my approval. While conflict requires that we remain flexible to shifting circumstances, at this time I would not support Congressional authorization or funding for sustained combat operations. “The president has so far acted within the authorities given to him by Congress through the War Powers Act of 1973. He has been briefing Congress, and he has 60 days to make his case for ongoing operations. This is not an illegal war — but it could become one. “There are reasonable constraints Congress should impose. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing the Resolution I have introduced with Congressman Gottheimer, which would cut the president’s authorized timeline for military action to 30 days and prohibit the deployment of ground troops outside the context of search-and-rescue or intelligence gathering. A month is plenty of time for the president to make his case to the American people — and for Congress to weigh in.” ###