US Navy Fleet Boost Seen Hinging on Higher Wages, More Workers

March 11, 2025, 6:57 PM UTC

Boosting employment and increasing wages are crucial to getting the US shipbuilding industry out of a rut that has led to delays and high costs, federal officials said Tuesday.

President Donald Trump has called for an overhaul of US commercial and military shipbuilding to catch up to China’s so-far unmatched ship production. The effort faces steep obstacles, including the recruitment and retention of workers, the Navy’s acting acquisition chief and a congressional budget analyst told the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee.

“Nothing is more important than addressing the critical labor shortages that afflict all of the shipbuilding ...

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