Trump wants attack subs. The rest of the $50 billion Pentagon budget shuffle is a question mark for the Navy. [View all]
A $50 billion funding shift ordered by President Donald Trump's new defense secretary makes attack submarines a priority but raises questions for the rest of the Navy.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth intends to pull roughly 8% of the Biden administration's fiscal year 2026 budget from existing programs and shift them to Trump's recently designated priorities. The plan has led to confusion about what this could mean for a critical area needed to confront China: Navy shipbuilding.
Only 17 Pentagon program areas would be exempted, per a memo by Hegseth, including "Southwest Border Activities," Virginia-class attack submarines, and "executable" surface ships.
Building Navy warships takes years and requires consistent funding to private shipbuilders who employ the skilled technicians and industrial processes needed to build advanced warships. The directive leaves it unclear if the new administration wants to continue building aircraft carriers, ballistic missile submarines, frigates, amphibious assault ships, and other vessels.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-wants-attack-subs-the-rest-of-the-50-billion-pentagon-budget-shuffle-is-a-question-mark-for-the-navy/ar-AA1zxLvO
I'm sure they can buy you some toy subs to play with in the bathtub for a lot less Donny.