The White House announced a new National Security Presidential Memorandum aimed at addressing long-standing challenges in U.S. Navy shipbuilding and ship repair while expanding capacity across the nation’s maritime industrial base.
The memorandum directs the Department of War to pursue a series of actions focused on increasing shipyard capacity, improving repair capabilities, strengthening domestic suppliers, and reforming Navy shipbuilding processes.
Among the actions outlined, the memorandum directs the department to replace the Advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Weapons Elevators with traditional steam and hydraulic systems during construction of CVN-81, the next Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier.
The plan also calls for greater investment in the American shipbuilding industrial base using the “Finland model,” which was previously used during the Coast Guard’s medium icebreaker program. Under this approach, foreign shipbuilders that make significant investments in U.S. shipyards and train American workers would be temporarily permitted to build up to two ships in their parent shipyards to help bridge near-term capacity gaps, with future ships built in revitalized U.S. facilities.
The memorandum also directs the establishment of a fifth Naval shipyard, the first new naval shipyard in more than 80 years, to increase submarine and aircraft carrier repair capacity. It also calls for a new Component Repair Center to maintain, repair, and refurbish critical components supporting current submarine programs.
Additionally, the Department of War will conduct a review and reorganization of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to address challenges affecting naval shipbuilding programs.
The White House said the effort is intended to address issues that have affected Navy shipbuilding, including complex designs, design changes, limited industrial capacity, supplier challenges, cost increases, and delays across major shipbuilding programs.
The memorandum builds on previous administration actions focused on maritime industrial capacity. The White House previously established an Office of Maritime and Industrial Capacity at the National Security Council and issued an executive order aimed at strengthening U.S. maritime capabilities.
The administration also highlighted investments in Coast Guard and Arctic security capabilities, including funding for additional Arctic Security Cutters and actions supporting expanded maritime infrastructure, commercial shipbuilding, defense shipbuilding, ship repair, supply chains, port infrastructure, and workforce development.
The White House’s February 2026 Maritime Action Plan expanded the definition of the Maritime Industrial Base to include commercial and defense shipbuilding, component suppliers, repair facilities, marine transportation capabilities, ports, and the workforce needed to support those industries.
The memorandum represents a broader effort to increase U.S. shipbuilding capacity and support future naval and maritime requirements through expanded industrial capability and workforce development.
