Secretary Duffy tells appropriators the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is dilapidated and needs investment
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Summary
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the United States Merchant Marine Academy has serious maintenance problems — including months without hot water and broken dishwashers — and urged funding and oversight to rehabilitate the school and its facilities.
During the appropriations hearing, Secretary Sean Duffy raised conditions at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and called for targeted investment and oversight to remedy what he described as dilapidated facilities.
Duffy told the subcommittee students at the academy had endured four months without hot water and that the facility suffers from mold and broken dining equipment. He described the students as highly capable and said the academy serves national and defense missions by training mariners who can crew U.S.-built ships and support military logistics in time of conflict.
Why this matters: members noted the academy produces skilled mariners who contribute to commercial shipping, the national defense sealift capacity and shipyard workforce needs. The secretary said he prefers to keep the academy under DOT oversight and urged the committee to consider investments or operational changes to address the school's maintenance backlog.
Discussion vs. decision: the secretary called for immediate attention and pledged to advocate for resources; the hearing recorded no vote or final appropriations decision for the academy.
What’s next: the secretary asked the committee to inspect the facility and signaled DOT will make improving academy conditions a priority in its budget and planning work.
