Congressman Mike Rogers criticized Joe Biden’s budget request for a plan to retire more Navy ships than the Navy plans on building. Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and delivered his remarks during a hearing on the Department of the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget request.
“Today, we complete our FY24 budget and posture hearings with the Department of the Navy,” Rogers said. “The President is requesting a 5 percent increase for the Navy and a 3 percent increase for the Marine Corps. Unfortunately, with today’s record level of inflation, those increases don’t go very far. We are seeing that very clearly in the request for shipbuilding. The President is seeking to build a paltry nine battle force ships in FY24. At the same time, he wants to retire 11.”
As part of its Fiscal Year 2023 budget request, the Navy plans to decommission nine Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships, five Ticonderoga-class cruisers, two Los Angeles-class submarines, four Landing Dock Ships, two oilers, and two Expeditionary Transfer Docks.
“Several of these ships have years of service life remaining,” Rogers said. “These retirements represent a huge loss of capability, especially for the Marine Corps. The President plans to slash the number of amphibs by 10 percent, leaving the fleet below the statutory floor of 31. We put 31 into law because that’s what the Marine Corps told us was the bare minimum they needed to successfully carry out their mission. Going below that number invites a tremendous amount of risk. That’s clearly why General Berger included a new amphib as his number one unfunded priority this year.”
“But even if we fund that amphib, the Navy still plans to reduce the number of battle force ships by 11 over the next five years,” Rogers said. “Forget about the 500-ship Navy many say we need to counter China. At no point, over the next 18 years does the size of the fleet even reach the statutory goal of 355 ships.”
Rogers warned that while the United States is retiring ships early, China is an increasing threat to our Navy.
“While this administration dithers, the CCP is rapidly growing and modernizing its navy,” Rogers said. “It already controls the largest Navy in the world. Our fleet of 296 ships was eclipsed years ago by a Chinese fleet of over 350 ships. In two short years, the DoD predicts the CCP will control over 400 battle force ships. I don’t understand how this administration can conclude reducing the size of our fleet will somehow deter China.”
Rogers complained that the Pentagon itself is divided over the forces it needs and plans to build.
“Making matters worse is confusion surrounding the Navy’s shipbuilding plan,” Rogers stated. “It’s not one plan. It’s four plans—each of them with different force structures and total number of ships. Our shipyards can’t plan, make investments, and properly operate with this uncertainty. It is also the absolute worst signal to send our adversaries, especially the CCP.”
Rogers is also concerned that the Pentagon does not have enough naval strike fighters.
“Finally, I’m also concerned about the strike fighter gap,” Rogers said. “It’s not forecasted to close until 2031. But that assumes Congress grants the Navy relief from the statutory requirement to field an air wing for each deployed aircraft carrier. I would inform the Navy that it’s highly unlikely we will grant that relief. The Navy should focus on mitigating the fighter gap in the short term by accelerating planned upgrades to our existing fighters, especially the F-35s. They should also expedite the fielding of unmanned collaborative drones and pair them with our existing fleet to enhance capabilities.”
“The point is we should be modernizing and expanding our naval capabilities,” Rogers concluded. “We absolutely should not be cutting them.”
Mike Rogers is in his eleventh term representing Alabama’s Third Congressional District.
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