Lawmakers Urge Domestic Shipbuilding Focus as Navy Considers Overseas Options

The U.S. Navy’s recent consideration of building ships abroad has sparked heated debate among Congress members, who are calling for a renewed emphasis on domestic shipbuilding to preserve American jobs and maintain global competitiveness. During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, lawmakers from both parties emphasized the importance of strengthening the nation’s maritime industrial base, citing concerns over declining U.S. capacity and rising foreign competition.

The discussion came following the Navy’s release of its fiscal 2027 shipbuilding plan, which explores the feasibility of constructing vessels overseas to address production delays. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao testified that the service requires 540,000 jobs to meet its ambitious shipbuilding goals but acknowledged gaps in domestic capabilities. He also highlighted the need for a renewed focus on recruiting and training younger workers to bolster the workforce.

However, some lawmakers expressed skepticism about relying on foreign partners. Retired U.S. Navy SEAL Rep. Jared Golden of Maine warned that shifting production abroad could lead to job losses at key domestic shipyards like Bath Iron Works, which faces potential layoffs if demand for American-built vessels falters. Similarly, Rep. Morgan Luttrell of Texas raised concerns about the use of foreign materials in constructing U.S. ships, stressing the importance of maintaining control over critical resources.

The debate underscores a broader tension between addressing immediate shipbuilding challenges and ensuring long-term domestic capacity. While some lawmakers like Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia support exploring overseas options as a short-term solution, others remain wary of ceding ground to foreign industries. The Navy’s plan includes spending $2.3 billion over five years on tankers built “potentially” abroad, but Cao emphasized that U.S. workers would travel overseas to learn advanced shipbuilding techniques for future domestic projects.

As the discussion continues, the outcome will likely shape the future of U.S. naval capabilities and its ability to compete with global adversaries like China, which currently outproduces America in shipbuilding by a significant margin.