Story perspectives

Trump proposes $275 B battleship fleet; CBO says $23 B each.

8/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a “golden fleet” of battleships costing $275 billion.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Sen. Jeff Merkley’s request, estimates USS Defiant will cost $23.4 billion and need eight years.
The CBO estimates 14 ships would average over $18 billion each.
The CBO warns shipyards lack capacity for 35,000-ton, 880-foot vessels.
Dr. Emma Salisbury of Foreign Policy Research Institute said the design tries to do everything but may excel at nothing.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a “golden fleet” of battleships costing $275 billion.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Sen. Jeff Merkley’s request, estimates USS Defiant will cost $23.4 billion and need eight years.
The CBO estimates 14 ships would average over $18 billion each.
The CBO warns shipyards lack capacity for 35,000-ton, 880-foot vessels.
Dr. Emma Salisbury of Foreign Policy Research Institute said the design tries to do everything but may excel at nothing.