Revitalizing Shipbuilding and the Maritime Industrial Base

This was a congressional hearing held by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republicans on April 23, 2026, focused on revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding and maritime industrial base. Key procurement discussions included the Navy's $65.88 billion shipbuilding budget request supporting 18 battle force and 16 non-battle force ships, emphasizing multi-year contracts to stimulate industry investment and workforce growth. The Coast Guard detailed its largest shipbuilding effort, including recapitalization of cutters and infrastructure upgrades, while addressing past procurement delays and contract restructuring. The Maritime Administration highlighted the need for a coordinated maritime system linking cargo, fleets, and shipyards, advocating for policy reforms to enhance commercial fleet growth and shipyard investment. Witnesses discussed leveraging distributed shipbuilding, digital tools like AI and digital twins for design and maintenance, and the importance of stable, predictable funding and multi-year procurement authorities. The hearing also covered challenges such as workforce shortages, regulatory barriers, and the need for strategic industrial base planning. The SHIPS Act and the Administration's Maritime Action Plan were noted as complementary efforts to sustain and grow the maritime industrial base. Several members emphasized the importance of cargo preference policies and domestic content requirements to support U.S. shipbuilding and national security.