President Donald Trump proposed the building of a “Golden Fleet” that would include a new class of battleships, the first constructed for the United States Navy since the Second World War. The question is how the United States Department of War (DoW) would fund such an endeavor.
However, last week, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan said during a keynote address at the WEST Conference in San Diego that the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2027 (FY2&) defense budget could double the number of ships procured by the U.S. Navy compared with the current fiscal year.
The FY26 budget allocated $27.2 billion for the service to construct 17 ships, but President Trump’s proposed FY27 budget of $1.5 trillion could increase the number to at least 34, with a large number being auxiliary and support ships rather than the still-to-be-designed Trump-class battleship.
“I can’t talk a lot about the ’27 budget,” Phelan said in his remarks, then added, “What I’ll say is if you look at the ’26 budget we did [19] ships in there, you should expect at least more than double — I would hope — in the new budget.”
The focus on non-combat vessels was a step toward better supporting the fleet.
“There is a pretty big contingent of auxiliary and support ships,” Phelan added. “I think that’s one of the ways, candidly, to help rebuild the maritime industrial base through these easier ships to build than our combat ships with very complicated radar systems or nuclear propulsion systems. It is an area that we are in grave need of upgrading, and I think the president has correctly addressed that in the budget. I don’t want to get in front of it, but I think you’ll be pleased when we get that out.”
A 21st Great White Fleet
Whereas the United States Navy’s “Great White Fleet” of the early 20th century literally consisted of warships painted white, the Golden Fleet is about restoring the U.S. Navy’s capabilities and solving key problems.
“The logic behind the Golden Fleet is about solving the decline in the maritime industrial base by changing the variables of the equation that have been broken for decades,” Phelan continued. “This generational investment by the American taxpayer in decisive maritime advantage must be delivered at a cost that we can sustain and fast enough to matter.”
Among the warships that could be part of the future fleet are the FF(X), a patrol frigate based on the Coast Guard National Security Cutter, and the aforementioned Trump-class battleship. Such surface combatants would be paired with unmanned systems and drones of various sizes and types. Even as many leaders within the U.S. Navy support the calls for a new large capital ship, the sea service remains committed to small uncrewed vessels.
“How do we rebuild the fleet? It’s through a disciplined high-low mix, high-end platforms, next-generation battleships, continued production of destroyers, carriers, and submarines, that deliver survivability, magazine depth, and sustained fires,” Phelan went on to explain. “The low end of the mix includes the new class of frigates and unmanned systems, delivering flexibility and scale, and then logistics and auxiliaries which sustains the force.”
The U.S. Navy’s top civilian official also defended Trump’s call for the new battleship, which he said would be among the largest, fastest and most powerful warships in the world today. Critics have warned that battleships were rendered obsolete by the Second World War.
“I keep reading and hearing that new battleships and carriers will just be sitting ducks,” explained Phelan. “Maybe we’ve heard this argument before, but keep in mind, something that moves like a ship is much harder to hit than a stationary target like a base or missile silo… [Carriers] still remain as critical components of naval and American military power.”
Adequately Funded
Phelan further suggested that from FY20 to FY24, the U.S. Navy was “consistently underfunded,” particularly for shipbuilding. Many programs remain delayed, notably the United States Navy’s next Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered supercarrier.
Instead of being handed over to the U.S. Navy last July, it won’t be delivered until March of next year. Although part of that was to ensure key systems were completed at handover, it is already running years behind schedule. A similar issue has plagued the Virginia-class fast-attack submarines under construction and other programs.
More Aircraft
Although Secretary Phelan didn’t address the need for additional aircraft for the U.S. Navy, his calls for a larger fleet of warships came days after Heather Penney, a former F-16 pilot and the Mitchell Institute director of research, warned that the United States Air Force needs more fighters and bombers than the planned acquisition for 185 Boeing F-47 sixth-generation fighters and 100 Northrop Grumman B-21 Raiders.
Penney stated that the Air Force should acquire at least 300 of the fighters and 200 bombers. However, the U.S. Air Force would need a sizeable chunk of the $1.5 trillion FY27 budget to make that happen.
Even as it promises to be the largest Pentagon budget in history, it clearly can only go so far.
