Trump's 'Golden Fleet' Could Soar to $455 BILLION, Sparking Outrage!
Trump's 'Golden Fleet' Could Soar to $455 BILLION, Sparking Outrage!
New estimates reveal Trump's 'Golden Fleet' of battleships could cost $455 billion, far exceeding initial projections! Democrats are battling to block funding for this controversial 'vanity project' amidst soaring costs.
President Trump's ambitious plan for a "Golden Fleet" of battleships, now dubbed "Trump-class" vessels, is facing immense scrutiny as new government estimates reveal a staggering potential cost of over $455 billion. This figure dwarfs initial projections and has ignited a fiery debate in Congress.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released data this week indicating that building the first 15 ships in this program could total approximately $275 billion. However, if the Navy pursues its goal of sailing about 25 of these massive vessels, the total program cost could surge past $455 billion. This monumental expenditure has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who are now fighting fiercely to strip funding for the shipbuilding program from ongoing budget negotiations.
Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon voiced strong opposition, stating, "At a time when families are struggling to afford groceries, gas, health care, and child care, Congress cannot throw hundreds of billions of dollars at Trump’s ‘Golden Fleet,’ including plastering his name across a new battleship." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed these concerns, calling the ships an unprecedented "vanity project" and sarcastically remarking on the former president's struggles with renovating simpler projects like a reflecting pool or a White House ballroom.
Each of these roughly 840-foot-long "Trump-class" ships comes with a hefty price tag. The first vessel is estimated to cost around $23 billion to construct, with successive ships projected at approximately $18 billion each. This is a significant jump from original military and outside estimates, which pegged the cost per ship between $9 billion and $15 billion. The CBO report highlighted that the president's insistence on nuclear-powered ships has been a major driver behind these inflated initial costs, despite the long-term potential for savings on conventional fuels. Meeting the planned construction schedule would also demand a doubling of large surface combatant production by 2035, adding another layer of complexity and potential cost.
