United States Wicker Tender

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker R-Miss. Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee yesterday led a hearing to receive testimony regarding the U.S. Navys shipbuilding plans. The hearing comes amidst growing concerns that the Navy has been lagging in shipbuilding and will not be able to defend U.S. interests without significant additional investments in new vessels.Lets be honest with the American people about how far behind weve gotten Wicker told the Honorable James F. Geurts who is the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research Development and Acquisition.Wicker asked the panel of witnesses about the Navys progress towards meeting its goal of a 355-ship fleet which became the national policy of the United States when President Donald Trump signed Wickers SHIPS Act into law last year.In his opening statement Geurts confirmed the Navy is on track to hit the congressionally mandated 355-ship minimum by the 2030s which is two decades earlier than initially projected.However Geurts also noted the need for a bigger fleet has increased and not declined.The Senator also discussed the funding challenges for procuring a new fleet in time to meet emerging threats across the globe. Despite Congresss recent action to increase appropriations for the Department of Defense Wicker noted the specter of a flat or declining budget returning in the future. The Budget Control Act BCA of 2011 which capped defense spending levels for the better part of a decade is due to snap back unless Congress takes action next year.I view that as unthinkable and it would be irresponsible on the part of this Congress Wicker said.Obviously at the BCA level that significant of a cut would be difficult to imagine us executing the current plan under BCA caps Geurts said.Vice Admiral William R. Merz who is the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems said that there would be immediate impact if BCA level funding returned.Depending on how long BCA-level funding lasts I think we could go from immediate to devastating impact on the program Merz said.The other witness at yesterdays hearing was Lieutenant General David H. Berger who is the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration Commanding General for the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.