Posted on October 27, 2025
Kate Farmer ably reports that “The Navy at 250 Faces New Challenges” (op-ed, Oct. 13). Secretary John Phelan told our colleagues in the House this summer that our programs are “a mess,” “behind schedule and overbudget.” All this while China is strengthening its own capacity: Beijing builds six naval combatant ships for every 1.8 ships we construct.
The silver lining: There is growing political will not to accept the status quo. President Trump this spring signed an executive order, “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance,” that seeks to rehabilitate the industry and engage allies.
In Congress we introduced the Ships for America Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would jumpstart production of new U.S.-flagged vessels; rebuild the U.S. shipyard industrial base; and expand and strengthen mariner and shipyard-worker recruitment, training and retention, creating thousands of new jobs for Americans. There’s momentum to pass our bill and send a message that the U.S. is serious about revitalizing our commercial maritime industries and countering China’s dominance over the oceans.
Why not make it a first order of business when the government reopens? Time isn’t our ally.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D., Ariz.)
Tucson, Ariz.
Sen. Todd Young (R., Ind.)
Bargersville, Ind.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/a-post-shutdown-priority-build-more-ships-kelly-young-china-74f4c415
