Top House Democrat pushes Hegseth for shipbuilding plan

Representative Rosa Deloro, De-Kon, Defense Minister Beit Higseth, faced during the House of Representatives Specialization Committee on Tuesday over years in the ability of shipbuilding in the country.

The higher Democrats accused the Defense Ministry (DOD) of failing to provide a clear and transparent plan to increase production at a time when shipbuilding capabilities in China are 230 times from the United States. She said that the Biden administration was similarly transparent.

Deloro focused on what she described as a worrying decrease between the current production capacity of the marine and future strategic needs.

“Do you know where our submarine production is currently standing and whether the current production is sufficient to fill the gap between the size of the current fleet and the expected need?” I asked.

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“There is a gap, but we believe that we are closing it,” Higseth admitted.

But Deloro was not satisfied, demanding detailed data to support this claim.

“We have no information or data that can prove what you say,” I shot. “Give me the details.”

“We have faced difficulty in the previous administration, and there is no objection to contacting them. What is your plan for the future?”

When asked about the situation about the administration’s investment in submarine programs, Higseth boasted by a 14 % increase in financing in requesting the 2026 fiscal year budget for the nuclear -powered ballistic missile submarines in Colombia and a “significant increase” in a rapid submarine of the Virginia category.

However, congress member raised concerns about reports that Pentagon is planning to change $ 3.1 billion in financing the FY2026 Colombia to FY2027 and FY2028.

Shipbuilding capacity in China is about 230 times from the United States (US Navy via AP)

“This creates a serious problem for the industry in the short term and impedes the ability of ship builders to reach an appropriate production rate,” Deloro warned. “Were you in contact with the electric boat or Huntington Invals about your plans?”

Higseth pushed back, saying that senior Pentagon officials were in regular contact with shipbuilding basins.

“Almost every day,” he said. “We are actively involved … to ensure that their needs are met and the shortcomings are tackled so that we can bridge this gap in an actual time.”

Deloro referred to the lost deadline for setting the main submarine contracts authorized by a continuous decision in December. Congress approved $ 5.7 billion with fourth -category submarines of the Fourth Bloc and One Block Virginia, with an understanding that the contracts will be in place by February 2025. The Ministry of Defense has not ended with the contracts until April 30.

“We have invested a dangerous investment,” Deloro said. “Now we want to know where this is going and what is your plan.”

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“There is a gap,” defense. Beit Higseth admitted the ability of shipbuilding in the country and its needs (Reuters/Annabel Gordon)

When clicking on details, HegSeth thanked the committee for its flexibility and confessed to the bad administration under previous departments. But Deloro cut it.

“I want your plan,” she said. “Can we get this in writing and on paper? Because we have nothing today. Our ZIP, NADA.”

HegSeth promised to provide the committee with written details about the administration’s submarine production plan.

“We have details, and we will provide them,” he said.

Delauro insisted that she wants information to the committee mark later on the same day.

The ability to build American ships was to drop the Cold War. In the eighties of the last century, the United States was aimed at a fleet of 600 ships; Today, it is struggling to keep 300 operating ships.

The navy is currently running under 50 offensive submarines, much less than the long -term requirements of 66 boats, as shown in the recent naval structure assessments.

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Shipbuilding basins, such as General Dynamics, are Centicut, Hentington Invals industries in Virginia and Mississippi, the main builders of nuclear submarines – but both work near the maximum capacity and face the challenges of the main workforce and the supply chain.

Shipbuilding companies reported great difficulties in employing, training and retaining the repair of welding, tubes, engineers and designers. The very specialized supply chain in shipbuilding was hit in particular by the Covid-19s and was slow to recover.