The proposed fleet of 15 nuclear-powered “Trump-class” warships would cost more than $18 billion each, while limited U.S. shipyard capacity could complicate construction, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A Trump administration proposal to build the largest U.S. battleships since World War II would cost an estimated $275 billion and could strain the nation’s shipbuilding capacity, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.
The plan calls for the Navy to acquire 15 nuclear-powered vessels described as “Trump-class” battleships. At more than $18 billion per ship, their projected cost would place them in the same range as the Navy’s Ford-class aircraft carriers, which have been the most expensive naval vessels ever constructed, CNN reported.
The CBO also raised questions about whether American shipyards possess sufficient capacity to build the proposed fleet while completing other Navy orders.
The battleships would account for a substantial portion of planned spending on surface combatants. According to the CBO, the Navy’s procurement budget for those vessels, including frigates and destroyers, is projected to rise from $11 billion in 2025 to $18 billion in 2027.
The Trump administration announced the battleship initiative in December as part of a broader effort to expand and modernize the Navy.
President Donald Trump said the ships would carry “guns and missiles at the highest level,” along with hypersonic weapons, electric rail guns, cruise missiles and the “most sophisticated lasers in the world.”
The CBO estimate indicates that completing all 15 vessels would require a long-term financial commitment comparable to major aircraft carrier programs while placing additional demands on shipyards already responsible for producing and maintaining other classes of naval vessels.
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