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PoliticsWhite House opposes congressional guardrails on Trump-class battleship program
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The White House has formally opposed a congressional move to block construction of the nuclear-powered Trump class battleship unless key weapon systems are certified as sufficiently mature. The House Armed Services Committee included Section 131 in the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act, requiring the Navy Secretary to certify that planned weapons—including an electromagnetic railgun, hypersonic missiles, and laser directed energy weapons—are at a mature technology readiness level before a construction contract can be awarded. The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a Statement of Administration Policy opposing these reporting requirements, arguing they would delay the program without supporting national security needs. The Navy describes the 35,000-ton Trump class as carrying a diverse array of weapons, including 128 Mk 41 VLS cells and a revived railgun program tested in February 2025. The OMB is also pressing Congress to include funding for the first ship, USS Defiant, in a temporary spending bill to avoid delays.
Source report
July 22, 2025 — The White House has formally registered its opposition to a congressional move that would block construction of the nuclear-powered Trump-class battleship unless the U.S. Navy certifies that key weapon systems are "sufficiently mature."
The House Armed Services Committee has already demanded a report from the Secretary of the Navy outlining steps being taken to ensure the battleship program does not worsen existing construction delays on aircraft carriers and submarines.
Administration Policy Statement
Earlier this week, the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a Statement of Administration Policy regarding the latest draft of the annual defense policy bill — the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027, also known as H.R. 8800 — now moving through the House of Representatives. The document outlines support for and opposition to various sections of the proposed legislation.
"The Administration appreciates that H.R. 8800 would provide authorization of the 18 ships requested in the Budget. These ships are a direct commitment to restoring America's maritime dominance and maritime industrial base," OMB's statement, published on July 21, declares. "In addition, the Administration appreciates the bill's support of the Battleship program by fully authorizing the $1 billion in advance procurement necessary to accelerate the delivery to the Fleet."
"However, the Administration opposes the bill's excessive reporting requirements in section 131 regarding the Administration's priority Battleship program," it continues. "The Administration strongly opposes any reporting requirements that delay the Battleship program without supporting national security requirements."
Section 131: Key Provision
Section 131 of H.R. 8800 is brief but pointed. It reads in full:
"The Secretary of the Navy may not enter into a contract or other agreement that includes a scope of work for the construction of the lead ship of the Battleship program until the date on which the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that the weapon systems planned for inclusion in such lead ship are at a sufficiently mature technology readiness level."
The section does not name specific weapon systems or define what level of technological readiness would be deemed sufficient.
Trump-Class Battleship Overview
To date, the Navy has described the planned Trump-class battleship as a 35,000-ton-displacement warship with a diverse array of weapons, including:
- Nuclear and conventional missiles, including hypersonic types, from several very large Vertical Launch System (VLS) arrays
- An electromagnetic railgun
- A pair of traditional 5-inch naval guns
- Various laser directed energy weapons
- Additional weapon systems for close-in defense
Note: An annotated graphic from the US Navy mentioned "28 Mk 41 VLS" cells, which appears to be a typo. Other official information states the ships will have 128 such cells.
Railgun Technology Concerns
The railgun presents particular questions regarding technological maturity. Between 2005 and 2021, the Navy had an active railgun program. Despite promising developments, plans for an at-sea test were repeatedly pushed back before the entire effort was shelved. Major technical hurdles were cited as a key factor in that decision. The railgun was effectively placed in storage at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico.
However, it emerged earlier this year that the Navy conducted a new round of railgun testing at WSMR in February 2025. Whether the Navy plans to resume work with the BAE Systems prototype design or pursue a new one remains unclear. General Atomics, which previously supported U.S. Army railgun efforts, has publicly expressed interest in being involved in arming the Trump class.
Funding Developments
On July 21, USNI News also reported that OMB was pressing members of Congress to include funding to start work on the first Trump-class battleship in a proposed temporary spending bill, or Continuing Resolution. A temporary funding package could be needed if legislators cannot pass a more formal budget by September 30, when the current fiscal year ends.
The first ship of the Trump class is set to be named USS Defiant.
Source
TWZWestern
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White House Opposes Congressional Guardrails on Trump Class Battleship Program