A Congressional Budget Office report estimates that a proposal to build a new class of nuclear-powered battleships would cost $275 billion [1].
The projection creates a significant fiscal and logistical hurdle for the administration's naval expansion goals. While the plan aims to project power through a modern fleet, the report suggests the scale of the project may be unattainable given current industrial constraints.
President Donald Trump (R-FL) proposed the creation of a "Golden Fleet" consisting of large, nuclear-powered warships. The plan involves the construction of around 15 battleships [2]. These vessels, often referred to as the "Trump-class," are intended to enhance the global reach and naval power of the U.S. Navy.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) requested the CBO analysis to determine the feasibility of the program. The resulting report flags two primary concerns: the immense financial burden, and the limited capacity of U.S. shipyards to handle such a massive surge in production.
The CBO's cost projections for the program extend through the year 2056 [3]. This long-term financial commitment would require sustained funding across multiple decades, a timeline that exceeds the typical planning cycle for naval procurement.
U.S. shipyards are already tasked with maintaining and building existing carrier and submarine classes. Adding a fleet of 15 new battleships would likely strain the workforce and supply chains already in place within the domestic maritime industry.
“A proposal to build a new class of nuclear-powered battleships would cost $275 billion.”
The CBO report highlights a growing tension between the administration's strategic vision for naval dominance and the physical reality of the U.S. industrial base. By projecting costs through 2056, the analysis suggests that the 'Golden Fleet' is not merely a budgetary challenge but a generational industrial undertaking that could displace other critical naval priorities.
