In February 2008, as part of its proposed FY2009 budget, the Navy submitted to Congress the FY2009 version of its annual 30-year shipbuilding plan. The 30-year plan is intended to support the Navy's goal of achieving and maintaining a 313-ship fleet. The Navy first presented the 313-ship plan to Congress in February 2006. The increase in the Navy's estimated cost for implementing the plan is so large that the Navy no longer appears to have a clearly identifiable, announced strategy for generating the funds needed to implement the 30-year plan, at least not without significantly reducing funding for other Navy programs or increasing the Navy's programmed budget in coming years by billions of dollars per year. Concerns about the Navy's prospective ability to afford the 30-year shipbuilding plan, combined with year-to-year changes in Navy shipbuilding plans and significant cost growth and other problems in building certain new Navy ships, have led to strong concerns among some Members about the status of Navy shipbuilding and the potential future size and capabilities of the fleet. As a consequence of these strong concerns, some Members in hearings this year on the Navy's proposed FY2009 budget have strongly criticized aspects of the Navy's shipbuilding plan and indicated that they are considering making changes to the plan. This report will be updated as events warrant.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress


    Contributors:
    R. O'Rourke (author)

    Publication date :

    2008


    Size :

    33 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English