Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery as seen from Memorial Bridge in April 2025. Angus King and Susan Collins and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree have joined the four members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation in criticizing a proposal that they say could harm the 8,000 federal workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. “Furthermore, the proposed rule weakens workers’ ability to challenge disciplinary measures by barring the use of union time to represent workers in removal proceedings.” Related Portsmouth Naval Shipyard exempted from civilian hiring freezePingree said in an emailed statement Wednesday that the rule would “weaken the very principles that have guided our civil service for generations — fairness, consistency, merit and accountability.” Collins supports this letter and shares the concerns of the delegation about how this rule affects civilian workers of the (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard),” the spokesperson wrote.