In a fiery exchange during a recent House Appropriations Committee hearing, Representative Rosa DeLauro, a top Democrat from Connecticut, sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for what she described as a "lack of transparency" and a troubling delay in addressing the United States' submarine production shortfall. DeLauro's concerns came at a time when China's shipbuilding capabilities are estimated to be 230 times greater than that of the U.S., highlighting the urgency for a comprehensive, clear plan from the Department of Defense (DOD) to ramp up production and bolster the nation's naval strength.
The exchange on Tuesday, which quickly became one of the most contentious moments of the hearing, centered around the gap between current Navy submarine production capacity and the service’s future strategic needs. DeLauro's pointed questions were designed to press Hegseth and the Pentagon on their plans to tackle what she sees as a growing crisis in U.S. naval preparedness.
DeLauro wasted no time in confronting Hegseth, demanding specifics on the current state of U.S. submarine production, which has been steadily declining since the Cold War era. "Do you know where our submarine production currently stands, and whether current production is sufficient to bridge the gap between the current fleet size and projected needs?" DeLauro asked.
Hegseth, acknowledging the shortfall, responded with a promise that the Pentagon was working to address the gap, saying, "There is a gap, but we believe we are closing it." However, DeLauro was not convinced by this general statement. She fired back, stating, "We do not have any information or data that can substantiate what you’re saying. Give us the details."
This exchange underscored DeLauro's frustration with the lack of a clear, transparent roadmap for boosting the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. As the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, DeLauro is responsible for securing the necessary funding for defense programs, and she made it clear that she expected nothing less than a fully developed and detailed plan from the Defense Department.
The current state of the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding capacity is cause for concern. Once aiming for a fleet of 600 ships during the height of the Cold War, the U.S. Navy now struggles to maintain a fleet of around 300 operational vessels.
Under 50 attack submarines currently serve in the fleet, well below the Navy’s long-term requirement of 66 boats, as outlined in recent Navy force structure assessments. This glaring shortfall is especially troubling in light of growing global naval competition, particularly with China.
DeLauro’s concerns were compounded by reports indicating that the Pentagon was planning to shift $3.1 billion in funding for the Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine program from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This move, she argued, could have severe consequences for shipbuilders, hampering their ability to meet the required production rate.
"This creates a serious problem for industry in the short term and hampers shipbuilders’ ability to reach an adequate production rate," DeLauro warned. "Have you been in contact with Electric Boat or Huntington Ingalls about your plans?"
In response, Hegseth defended the Pentagon’s approach, stating that the department was in regular contact with shipyards like Electric Boat (General Dynamics) in Connecticut and Huntington Ingalls Industries in Virginia and Mississippi. "Almost every day," he said, emphasizing the Pentagon’s active engagement with these key shipbuilders to address the industry’s shortfalls.
However, DeLauro was not satisfied with this reassurance. She pointed out that the Pentagon had missed a critical deadline to place key submarine contracts authorized under the December continuing resolution. Congress had approved $5.7 billion for two Block IV and one Block V Virginia-class submarines, with the understanding that contracts would be finalized by February 2025.
Yet, the Pentagon did not complete the contracts until April 30, 2025.
“We have made a serious investment,” DeLauro said. “Now we want to know where that is going and what your plan is.” She pressed Hegseth to provide specific details about the department’s investment strategy. “Can we get that in writing and on paper? Because we don’t have anything today. We have zip, nada.”
In a moment of rare concession, Hegseth acknowledged the difficulty the department had in meeting production goals and conceded the Pentagon's prior mismanagement under previous administrations. He promised that the committee would receive detailed written information about the department’s plans for the submarine program. “We have the details, and we will provide them,” he assured the committee.
While Hegseth’s response may have assuaged some immediate concerns, DeLauro’s demand for a concrete, written plan underscores the depth of frustration within the Democratic Party regarding the U.S. Navy’s ongoing struggles with its shipbuilding capacity. DeLauro has long championed the need for a stronger, more resilient military, and she is keen to ensure that U.S. defense spending is not squandered in the face of rising global threats.
The timing of the exchange could not be more critical. With China’s shipbuilding capacity growing at an exponential rate, the U.S. risks falling behind if it does not address its naval production issues swiftly.
According to some estimates, China’s shipbuilding industry is now capable of constructing warships at a pace that far outstrips that of the U.S. As China continues to build up its naval forces, the gap in production between the two nations could have serious geopolitical implications in the coming years.
The U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding troubles are compounded by a number of challenges, including workforce shortages and supply chain disruptions, particularly those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Shipyards such as Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls are working at near maximum capacity, struggling to recruit, train, and retain skilled workers such as welders, pipefitters, engineers, and designers.
These issues have contributed to significant delays in the production of new vessels, further hampering the Navy’s ability to meet its long-term strategic goals.
Hegseth’s assurance that top Pentagon officials are actively engaged with shipyards is an important step in the right direction. However, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will result in the rapid, effective action needed to close the gap between the Navy’s current fleet size and its future requirements.
With China’s naval power growing at an unprecedented rate, the pressure is on for the U.S. to respond with the same level of urgency.
DeLauro’s demand for a clear plan is just the beginning of what promises to be an ongoing, high-stakes battle over the future of the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding capacity. As the U.S. faces mounting competition from China and other global powers, the ability to quickly and efficiently ramp up submarine production will be a key factor in determining the strength and readiness of the nation’s naval forces in the years ahead.
