Congressional debate intensifies over $1 billion advance funding for Trump-class battleship

As Congress works on a temporary funding measure to keep the government running past Oct. 1, it must decide whether to allow an exception that would allocate $1 billion for early parts procurement for a new Trump-class battleship. Defense panels controlled by Republicans argue the ship is still in the design phase and that committing money now could trigger cost overruns and schedule delays. The House Appropriations Committee’s defense bill would include the $1 billion but cautions that the Navy has not finalized the ship’s design, completed an alternatives analysis, or set stable requirements.

Meanwhile, the Senate’s pending NDAA does not contain the funding, and an aide described the request as “early to need.” The House-passed NDAA would permit the money but bar any contract until the Navy secretary confirms weapon systems have reached a mature technology readiness level, while senior Democrats on armed-services committees have publicly opposed the battleship program.