On Wednesday, shipbuilders appealed to Congress for $600 million in advanced funding to sustain aircraft carrier suppliers amid various challenges, including delays, uncertain funding, an aging fleet, and Pentagon orders to deploy a second carrier to the Red Sea. This request was presented during an event organized by the Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC), where Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., emphasized the importance of maintaining military presence around the world as a deterrent to threats, particularly from nations like China that are rapidly expanding their naval capabilities.
Rep. Wittman also highlighted the need for congressional funding to support workforce training and recruitment in the shipbuilding industry, asserting that the three critical factors for a strong industrial base are skilled workforce and workforce-related resources. He noted the necessity of having engineers and technicians to build essential systems for aircraft carriers.
The urgency of the request for funds is compounded by recent orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to redirect the USS Carl Vinson from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, amidst escalating Houthi attacks near Yemen. Additionally, the USS Harry S. Truman’s deployment in the Middle East has been extended, further contributing to concerns about the U.S. carrier presence in the Pacific.
Some lawmakers, such as Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., voiced worries that diverting the Pacific carrier could create strategic vulnerabilities, especially given delays in shipbuilding for the new CVN-82 and CVN-83 carriers, which are intended to replace the aging USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). Courtney emphasized the broader implications of having too few carriers for national security, underscoring that the absence of a carrier in the Indo-Pacific is alarming given the geopolitical climate.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., echoed that funding is crucial to support shipbuilding efforts and project military power effectively in the Pacific region, noting the complexity of modern shipbuilding operations.
Shipbuilders, represented by Lisa Dante Papini, CEO of Dante Valve Company, reiterated their request for $600 million in operational funding for the delayed CVN-82, scheduled for delivery in 2029. Papini warned that suppliers are facing a crisis, with production lines at risk of shutting down, leading to layoffs and a detrimental impact on military shipbuilding capabilities.
The ACIBC plans to inform Congress members about the pressing need for funding as many suppliers contemplate exiting military shipbuilding due to declining demand. Papini characterized the delays on CVN-82 as unprecedented, creating instability within the industrial base, which thrives on predictable multi-year contracts for shipbuilding.
The U.S. Navy currently operates 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, pivotal to maritime operations, capable of carrying nearly 100 aircraft, serving as deterrents against threats, and providing humanitarian assistance during crises.
