US Lawmakers Urge Domestic Shipbuilding Focus as Navy Considers Overseas Options

During a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal 2027 Defense Department budget, US lawmakers from both parties urged Navy and Marine Corps leaders to prioritize revitalizing the domestic maritime industrial base. This follows the Navy's release of a shipbuilding plan exploring the possibility of constructing vessels at foreign shipyards to address capacity shortages. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated the service needs 540,000 jobs to meet current demands and clarified that the Navy is evaluating foreign models to improve efficiency rather than directly investing in overseas construction. The plan includes potentially building five fuel support tankers abroad and sending US workers overseas to learn advanced techniques. While some Republicans accepted temporary overseas production if it aids domestic revival, Democrats like Rep. Jared Golden criticized the approach, warning it could undermine American workers and lead to layoffs at major yards like Bath Iron Works. Concerns were also raised regarding the sourcing of construction materials and the strategic implication of relying on foreign partners amid China's significant shipbuilding advantage.