US Navy Scales Up Ambitions With Costly ‘Trump-Class’ Battleship Program
The US Navy is pivoting toward a massive expansion of its surface fleet, revealing plans to acquire at least 15 “Trump-class” battleships over the next three decades. This updated shipbuilding strategy, detailed in a congressionally mandated long-range plan released Monday, signals a significantly deeper commitment to the program than previously disclosed.
The initiative represents a shift in scale and cost, moving from an initial goal of three vessels to a projected fleet of more than a dozen by 2055. These ships, personally approved by President Donald Trump, are poised to become the most expensive warships ever produced by the United States.
The Price of Maritime Dominance
The financial scope of the Trump-class program is staggering. Based on a five-year Navy budget plan requesting $43.5 billion for the first three vessels, each battleship is estimated to cost at least $14.5 billion. To put this in perspective, these ships would surpass the $13 billion price tag of the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, currently the most expensive warship in the US inventory.
Historically, the lead vessel of a new class of warships often exceeds initial cost projections, suggesting the final price per unit could climb even higher. While the President has previously suggested an ambition to build as many as 25 battleships, the Navy’s formal requirements process has currently authorized a minimum of 15.
Delivery Timeline and Fleet Projections
The rollout of the Trump-class battleships will be a multi-decade endeavor. The Navy expects the first vessel to be delivered in 2036, approximately eight years after the contract is signed. The subsequent delivery schedule is as follows:
- Second and Third Ships: 2038 and 2039
- Fourth and Fifth Ships: 2041 and 2043
Despite these additions, the Navy continues to struggle with overall fleet size. The service projects it will have 299 ships in its fleet by 2031—a slight increase from the current 291 ships—but this remains well short of the internal requirement of 355 ships.
Budgetary Hurdles and Political Risk
The program’s viability is tied closely to a volatile political and budgetary landscape. President Trump has proposed a 44% boost for the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion 2027 budget, a figure likely to encounter significant resistance in Congress.
the Trump-class program is highly susceptible to political shifts. Because the program is so closely associated with the current administration, it is viewed as a primary target for cancellation should Republicans lose the House of Representatives in the November midterm elections. The risk of cancellation increases further if a Democrat wins the presidency in 2028.
The Navy has acknowledged the uncertainty of these long-term goals. A footnote in the shipbuilding document clarifies that all items beyond the current five-year plan (extending to 2031) remain “under review by the Administration.”
Leadership Shifts and Structural Failures
The push for renewed shipbuilding has already caused friction within the Pentagon’s top brass. President Trump fired the previous Navy secretary, John Phelan, following clashes with Pentagon leaders over administration efforts to revive US shipbuilding.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, who succeeded Phelan, emphasized the necessity of the new direction. “The United States is at a strategic inflection point, and rebuilding American maritime dominance requires urgency, accountability, and sustained commitment,” Cao stated upon the plan’s release.
However, the Navy admits that its inability to meet fleet requirements is not merely an industrial problem. According to the plan, the deficit is “structural,” stemming from how the service handles acquisition, planning, and risk management.
- Quantity: At least 15 battleships planned through 2055 (up from 3).
- Estimated Cost: At least $14.5 billion per vessel.
- First Delivery: Expected in 2036.
- Fleet Gap: Projected 299 ships by 2031, missing the 355-ship requirement.
- Primary Risks: Congressional budget pushback and potential shifts in House or Presidential leadership.
Looking Ahead
The Trump-class battleship program is more than a procurement effort; it is a high-stakes bet on a return to heavy surface combatants. Whether the US can overcome its structural acquisition failures and secure the necessary funding remains the central question for the future of American naval power.