Posted on May 4, 2026
By Mackenzie Eaglen (American Enterprise Institute) and Rep. Filemon Vela Jr. (D, Texas)
The Navy’s challenges transcend this presidency and ordinary political churn. For decades shipbuilding was underfunded while maintenance, dry docks, and munitions also lagged. The result is strained at every layer, with future readiness sacrificed to meet today’s crisis. Shipsbreakdown, sailors have to cannibalize parts, and the fleet fires weaponsfaster than the nation can replenish them.
Finding the right mix of legislative and policy cures is the mandate of the National Commission on the Future of the US Navy. Being independent and bipartisan, the commission can bridge long-strained relationships inside the Pentagon and with legislators and industry while identifying how to build the fleet of the future. Since early 2026 we have traveled to three combat and commands and met senior Navy leaders. Stakeholders see the problems and fixes. The problems aren’t insurmountable. The question is where to start, how to bridge to an autonomous-heavy future, and how to balance today’s requirements with tomorrow invest investments.
First, the Navy must bring robotic and autonomous systems online while fielding containerized payloads that add flexibility. It must also repair ships quicker and field low-cost weapons that can be produced at scale. The Navy needs to maintain its current fleet while building toward a mixed future fleet. New weapons should include include counter-drone system systems and affordable long-range hypersonic missiles. These systems must be produced fast enough to replace weapons used in the Midde East and to deter China.
Second, the US also needs generational reforms and expanded investments in the mMaritime industrial base. The country has to be able to build manned and unmanned ships for a global blue water, sea control and sea denial Navy. Tthat means more dry docks, new facilities and a larger technical workforce to raise construction and repair rates. The US has to ask hard questions about buying foreign support ships, using Allied capacity and expanding our own shipyards.
Third, we need a national dialogue about modern maritime strategy. The world is growing more violent. The US needs to figure out how best to project naval power to secure sea lines of communication and global shipping while defending the homeland. Russian and Chinese submarine forces are growing, including nuclear capable platforms. China is building a navy to challenge ours that includes a network of bases that will force a worldwide US response.
The challenges facing the navy weren’t made by anyone president or Navy secretary, but they require all parties to work together.
