President Biden says he’ll increase protection spending subsequent 12 months as a result of the world is extra harmful. However the funds particulars don’t match his rhetoric, and Exhibit A is the grim outlook for the Navy. The invoice for many years of complacency and neglect is coming due at a harmful second, as China ramps up its fleet.
The Navy’s 2023 funds launched final week asks to buy 9 ships whereas retiring 24, and also you don’t want a complicated math diploma to grasp that may shrink the 298-ship fleet. The Navy’s estimates present the fleet contracting to 280 ships in 2027. A congressional aide tells us the Navy is actually double-counting a ship Congress already approved, so at eight new ships the Navy provides one for each three it might scrap.
