US Lawmakers Urge Domestic Shipbuilding Revival as Navy Considers Overseas Options

Members of the US Congress have urged Navy and Marine Corps leaders to prioritize strengthening America's maritime industrial base, following the release of the Navy's fiscal 2027 shipbuilding plan. The plan outlines the possibility of constructing ships at foreign shipyards to address domestic capacity shortages. During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao clarified that the service is exploring foreign models to improve efficiency rather than directly investing in overseas construction. The plan proposes spending $2.3 billion over five years to potentially build five fuel support tankers abroad. While some lawmakers, such as Rep. Derrick Van Orden, accept temporary overseas production to fill gaps, they emphasize the need to revive US manufacturing capabilities. Others, including Rep. Jared Golden, criticized the notion of sending US workers abroad for training, warning it could harm domestic employment. Republicans like Rep. Rich McCormick highlighted the strategic disparity with China's shipbuilding output, stressing that any foreign collaboration must ultimately benefit US technology and work ethic. The debate underscores tensions between immediate naval needs and long-term industrial security.