Posted on July 16, 2025
The Trump administration’s early ambition to revitalise US shipbuilding appears to be losing momentum, following the departure of Ian Bennitt, the White House National Security Council’s (NSC) senior director for maritime and industrial capacity. Bennitt’s exit, alongside that of NSC chief of staff Brian McCormack, underscores a broader hollowing out of the council’s maritime policy apparatus, just months after president Donald Trump pledged to reclaim America’s shipbuilding dominance.
Bennitt’s resignation, reportedly to pursue a private sector role, is a particular blow to the administration’s industrial policy push. His office was once touted as a cornerstone of the president’s April executive order, which aimed to restore domestic shipyard capacity and counter China’s dominance in the global shipping industry. But as of this month, five of seven staffers in the NSC maritime office have departed, according to The Wall Street Journal.
While White House spokespeople insist shipbuilding remains a Trump priority, officials privately admit that strategic leadership on maritime issues has shifted to the State Department and the Office of Management and Budget.
