CBO Pegs First 'Trump-Class' Warship at Up to $22 Billion

Overview

• CBO naval analyst Eric Labs outlined scenarios that place the first hull’s price as high as $22 billion with a low end of $15.1 billion.
• Follow-on ships could average $10 billion to $15 billion, with labor shortages and supply chain issues potentially pushing expenses higher.
• The vessel remains at the concept stage after President Trump’s December rollout under the Golden Fleet initiative to revive U.S. shipbuilding.
• A Navy fact sheet, later removed, suggested a roughly 35,000-ton ship with up to 850 crew and potential armaments including Tomahawks, hypersonic weapons, lasers, and nuclear-capable cruise missiles.
• The projected price surpasses the roughly $13 billion cost of the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, raising fresh affordability concerns.