A group of U.S. senators, led by Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, demanding he fulfill a commitment he made to provide a 30-year shipbuilding plan that meets the legal requirement for maintaining at least 31 amphibious warfare ships.
The letter, signed by senators from both sides of the aisle, including 13 members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, highlights concerns that the Navy has failed to meet the requirement and emphasizes the potential consequences for national security.
The issue stems from Secretary Del Toro’s presentation of a shipbuilding plan before the SASC in April, which did not reach the statutory minimum mandated by Congress.
The bill states, “The amphibious warfare ship force structure of the Navy must be maintained at 31, composed of 10 amphibious assault ships general-purpose and multi-purpose, and 21 amphibious transport dock types, in order to meet global commitments.” But the Biden Administration has turned the Navy’s focus to climate change and LGBTQ+ issues, not warfare readiness.
During a subsequent questioning session led by Sen. Sullivan earlier this year, the Navy Secretary committed to providing the required plan. But Del Toro never did.
The senators, in their formal letter to Del Toro, reminded him that the requirement is not a mere suggestion. The Navy’s violation of the law also poses a threat to the future effectiveness of the Joint Force, particularly in light of the national security threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
In their letter, senators request Secretary Del Toro asked that the updated plan be handed over by June 19.
Adding weight to the senators’ concerns, Gen. Eric Smith, the nominee to be the commandant of the Marine Corps, testified before the committee, stressing that the Corps cannot fulfill its global response mission without the minimum number of amphibious ships.
The provision requiring a minimum of 31 amphibious warships was originally authored by Sen. Sullivan and received unanimous support from both Democrats and Republicans on the SASC. It was subsequently signed into law as part of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
Sullivan has been vocal about the Department of Defense’s failure to comply with Congress on this matter. In May, he argued on the Senate floor that the DOD’s defiance sets a dangerous precedent, erodes the rule of law, and undermines the authority of the American people’s elected representatives.
