The Women, Peace & Security program was signed into law by Trump and had received backing from numerous Republican leaders.
Advocates praised defense leaders for excluding shipyard workers and other key readiness jobs from a department-wide hiring freeze.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., serves on the armed services committee and was the first-ever woman to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The cost estimates are critical to a debate that has delayed key congressional authorizations needed to advance AUKUS.
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