Congress Tells Pentagon $20.8B FY 2026 Shipbuilding Funding is Insufficient

In a critical review of the Pentagon’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, congressional leaders expressed strong concerns over the Navy’s shipbuilding allocation. During hearings on Tuesday, both the House and Senate defense committees deemed the proposed $20.8 billion budget inadequate, prompting House defense appropriators to suggest an increase to $36.9 billion. Key lawmakers highlighted the potential risks to national security and industrial stability due to significant funding shortfalls.

Legislators Critique Proposed Funding Cuts

Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) voiced his alarm over the Navy’s budget during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. He criticized the drastic reduction from last year’s $37 billion to the proposed $20.8 billion, labeling it as overly dependent on anticipated reconciliation funds. Wicker stated, “This shortfall reflects efforts to game the budget in anticipation of Congressional reconciliation funds, which were intended as supplemental, not a substitute.” He emphasized that the current budget proposal lacks funding for essential naval assets, including guided-missile destroyers, frigates, and Virginia-class attack submarines.

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Wicker further argued that omitting two destroyers from the budget request undermines the shipbuilding industry and jeopardizes ongoing recovery efforts. He pointed out that the absence of funding for Virginia-class submarines disrupts multi-year negotiations, which assume a total of nine submarines over five years. Additionally, he noted that the Columbia-class program, vital for strategic deterrence, is underfunded by $4 billion. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has yet to release comprehensive details regarding the defense budget, as director Russ Vought has withheld specifics pending the reconciliation bill’s passage.

House Appropriations Committee Proposes Alternative Budget

In response to the concerns raised, the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee unveiled a draft bill proposing a shipbuilding budget of $36.9 billion. This alternative budget includes significant allocations for various naval programs, such as $5.27 billion for the Columbia-class nuclear ballistic submarine and $6.24 billion for Virginia-class attack submarines. Other notable allocations include funding for future aircraft carriers, destroyers, and various support vessels.

Despite the House’s proactive approach, the bill was developed without input from the White House budget request, a departure from standard procedure. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) expressed frustration over the lack of detailed information from the OMB, stating, “It’s hard for us to do our job without the J-books and detailed information.” Defense spending expert Todd Harrison noted that this year’s process is unusual, with appropriators drafting bills without a formal budget request from the administration. This shift could limit the administration’s ability to influence the FY 2026 budget, raising concerns about the overall effectiveness of defense procurement moving forward.