Committee probes U.S. shipbuilding capacity and shipyard workforce; witnesses back Ships for America framework
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Summary
Industry witnesses told the House committee the U.S. has physical shipyard capacity but lacks a stable demand signal, skilled workforce and streamlined oversight. Witnesses and members discussed the Ships for America Act, Guam shipyard potential, and the need for multiyear buys and labor training.
The House Armed Services Committee focused part of its hearing on America’s maritime industrial base, with multiple members citing a shrinking fleet, long maintenance backlogs and an eroded supplier workforce.
Max Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America, testified the nation’s private shipyards "have physical capacity" but have acted cautiously because of decades of low demand, funding volatility and changing ship specifications. "Industry capacity is a reflection of the demand signal of our government and commercial customers," he said.
Paxton and other witnesses argued that unpredictable budgets and frequent specification changes increase cost and delay delivery. Paxton described instances of heavy government oversight in shipyards — where he said government oversight ratios can reach 16:1 — and urged more partnership between the Navy and private industry to reduce requirements creep and share risk. Rep. Rob Wittman and other members urged multiyear buys and stable budgets to permit shipyards to invest in tooling and workforce.
Members highlighted the Ships for America Act as a framework to connect commercial and naval shipping needs and to spur a maritime workforce. Rep. John Garamendi and Paxton described the bill as a way to create a national maritime strategy and to leverage domestic shipbuilding for commercial and defense logistics.
The committee also discussed Guam’s dormant ship repair facilities. Paxton said Guam could provide strategic capacity for the Indo‑Pacific and supported leasing or private investment to restore capabilities there. Members pressed for rapid action given regional timelines.
On submarines and undersea warfare, multiple members said the United States must accelerate Virginia‑class construction and Columbia‑class programs. Witnesses said workforce shortages and supply‑chain fragility, not physical berth space, are the main constraints to faster production.
The discussion closed with members asking witnesses for concrete follow‑up — lists of suppliers that have departed the industrial base, candidate investments for multiyear contracting, and proposals to scale training programs like the Advanced Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) center in Danville, Va. No formal committee action was taken; members requested further documents and company responses appear in the hearing record.
