Biden to request fewer Navy ships

The Navy will request funding for eight new vessels in its upcoming FY 2022 budget request. The Biden Administration’s $715B defense department budget will call for four fewer ships (12) than was being sought by the Trump Administration. The budget will request funding to build four combat vessels and four support ships, including two submarines, one DDG-51 Aegis destroyer and one Constellation-class frigate, according to officials. Other vessels sought include a John Lewis-class refueler, two Navajo-class T-ATS salvage and towing vessels, and one Auxiliary Ocean Surveillance Vessel, said the officials, who asked for anonymity. The budget request is tentatively scheduled to be released on May 27. The Trump plan called for two destroyers and two Expeditionary Fast Transport (EFT) vessels, among the 12. That costly Trump plan, according to some observers, was a costly effort to paint the Biden Administration into a corner on the assumption it would draw bipartisan support from lawmakers from shipbuilding states, including Alabama and Mississippi. Instead, the Biden plan seems to be more of a status quo budget. (Source: Bloomberg News 05/18/21) Gulf Coast Note: Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., builds the EFTs. Navy to Seek Eight Vessels in Next Budget, Cutting a Destroyer - Bloomberg