Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has welcomed a new U.S. Navy 30-year shipbuilding plan that aligns with the requirements he secured in the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The provision mandates the Navy to maintain at least 31 amphibious vessels, including 10 assault ships. This compliance follows an earlier shipbuilding plan by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in April 2023 that did not meet these requirements.

Senator Sullivan responded by securing a provision in the FY 2024 NDAA to withhold half of the Navy’s operations and maintenance budget if they failed again to comply with the amphibious warship requirement.

“For the past year, the Secretary of the Navy has been violating federal law, failing to provide a shipbuilding plan that ever gets to the 31 amphibs mandated by Congress,” said Sen. Sullivan. He emphasized that Secretary Del Toro's actions could set a dangerous precedent and increase risks for American citizens and service members. "Without these vessels, the Navy and Marine Corps are less capable and equipped to respond to serious national security challenges or rescue Americans stranded in hostile territory," he added.

Sullivan credited his collaboration with U.S. Marine Corps leadership and bipartisan support from his SASC colleagues for ensuring compliance with this mandate. He also expressed readiness to hold political appointees accountable should there be any future non-compliance.