Trump Upgrades The Navy
The U.S. Navy is moving forward with plans to deploy the first warship in a new frigate class by 2028, marking the opening step in President Donald Trump’s newly authorized “Golden Fleet” initiative—an effort aimed at rebuilding American naval strength and reviving domestic shipbuilding.
Navy leaders say the new frigate will be based on an existing U.S. Coast Guard design, a strategic decision intended to speed up construction, reduce cost overruns, and strengthen the nation’s maritime industrial base.
A Faster Path to Fleet Expansion
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced the plan this week, explaining that the Navy will rely on a lead-yard approach paired with competitive follow-on construction. Under this model, multiple U.S. shipyards can participate while being evaluated on a single priority: delivering operational ships to the fleet as quickly as possible.
Phelan said the goal is to move past lengthy studies and focus on results, emphasizing readiness and production speed as global security threats continue to grow.
Built in America, by American Workers
The Navy selected Huntington Ingalls Industries, the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, to design and construct the new small surface combatant. The Mississippi-based company previously built the Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter, a proven platform that will serve as the foundation for the new frigate.
HII President and CEO Chris Kastner said the design is stable, reliable, and ready for production now—allowing the Navy to avoid the costly delays that have plagued other programs. He added that the project will support American jobs and expand U.S. shipbuilding capacity at a critical time.
First Confirmed Ship of Trump’s “Golden Fleet”
President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth formally approved the Golden Fleet initiative earlier this month. While officials have not yet released full details on the fleet’s long-term scope, the new frigate represents the first confirmed ship class under the program.
Navy Adm. Daryl Caudle emphasized that the frigate is a fully American design that will be built domestically—aligning with the Trump administration’s broader push to reduce reliance on foreign military suppliers and restore U.S. manufacturing strength.
Learning From Past Mistakes
The announcement follows the Navy’s decision to cancel the troubled Constellation-class frigate program, which was based on a foreign design from Fincantieri. That effort suffered repeated delays, rising costs, and technical challenges.
By contrast, Navy leaders say the new approach relies on a design that is already proven at sea, minimizing risk and accelerating delivery.
Caudle pointed to ongoing U.S. naval operations in regions such as the Red Sea and the Caribbean as clear evidence that the fleet needs reliable ships it can deploy immediately.
Focused on Readiness and Deterrence
Phelan said the Navy is now shifting from prolonged analysis to decisive action, stressing that readiness—not bureaucracy—must drive procurement decisions.
President Trump has repeatedly argued that America must put more “hulls in the water” to maintain naval dominance, deter foreign adversaries such as China, and protect global trade routes. Supporters of the Golden Fleet initiative say the new frigate is a major step toward restoring U.S. maritime strength while putting American workers back on the job.
