Congressman Jared Golden Questions Navy's FY26 Budget for DDG Destroyers, Citing Concerns Over Shipbuilding Capacity and National Security

Strategic Insights -

Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) questioned the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations on the lack of procurement funding for DDG-51 destroyers in the FY26 budget request, citing concerns over the impact on domestic shipbuilding capacity and national defense. Golden emphasized the importance of consistency in shipbuilding, noting that skilled shipbuilders are aging and take seven years to develop. The hearing highlighted the critical role of DDG-51 destroyers in the Navy's surface fleet and the need for a consistent demand signal to support the production of these ships.

Key Takeaways:

  • Congressman Jared Golden expressed concerns over the lack of procurement funding for DDG-51 destroyers in the FY26 budget request, which could undermine shipbuilding capacity and national security.
  • Golden emphasized the importance of consistency in shipbuilding, as skilled shipbuilders take seven years to develop and are aging.
  • The DDG-51 destroyers are a critical element of the Navy's surface fleet, capable of anti-air defense and striking targets like submarines, land-based threats, and other warships.
  • The two shipyards in the United States that produce DDG-51s, Bath Iron Works in Maine and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi, require a consistent demand signal to maintain a 1.5-ship per year production rate.
  • Golden questioned Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on the lack of specific details on the Navy's budget request, noting that the current records show no plans to fund new DDG procurement in FY26.
  • Acting Chief of Naval Operations James Kilby indicated that DDG class destroyers are a critical element of the Navy's fleet, but the Trump Administration has not released detailed information on its upcoming FY2026 budget request.
  • Congressman Golden and Secretary Phelan disagreed on whether the Navy is committed to maintaining a consistent demand signal for shipbuilding and whether the current budget request would support the production of DDG-51s.

Statistics:

  • The Navy's shipbuilding plan envisions 23 DDG Flight III ships.
  • There is currently one DDG Flight III ship in the fleet, with another ready to deliver.
  • The pending reconciliation bill includes two DDG Flight III ships, which would result in a three-ship cadence in FY26 and FY27.
  • Golden is concerned that the Navy's budget request does not support a 1.5-ship per year production rate for the two DDG yards, which could lead to ups and downs in the workforce and layoffs.

Sources:

  • United States House of Representatives -- Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) Budget without DDG destroyers in FY26 would undermine shipbuilding capacity, national security, Golden says
  • United States House of Representatives -- House Armed Services Committee Hearing on the FY26 Budget Request
  • MIL OSI USA News (http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/) - Copyright 2025 Multimedia Investments Ltd, distributed by Contify.com