U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), and Angus King (I-ME) recently expressed concern that the Department of Defense will significantly reduce shipbuilding in its fiscal year 2021 budget.
Three years ago, President Donald Trump signed into law a policy of achieving a 355-ship Navy. The current navy is comprised of 293 battle force ships, and congressionally mandated, independent studies have concluded a larger fleet is needed.
The department may propose a budget plan that would result in a fleet smaller than 293 ships in 2025, according to media reports.
“Ultimately, Congress is responsible for annual Department of Defense and Navy appropriations, and we will continue to support a growing fleet in order to protect our national security and ensure our national prosperity as threats around the world continue to grow,” the senators said in a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
In December, the fiscal year 2020 defense appropriations bill was signed into law. The funding provides $23.9 billion for 14 new battle force Navy ships.
It includes $5.1 billion for three DDG-51 Flight III destroyers and a $390 million increase to use as a down payment on an additional ship.
Collins is a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and King is a member of the Armed Services Committee.