The recent short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) stopgap funding measure that Congress passed and President Biden signed to narrowly avoid a government shutdown included a provision allowing the Navy to start construction on the next ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
The CR that funds the government through Nov. 17 was signed by President Biden late Sunday night with only hours to spare before a shutdown and seeks to give Congress more time to pass final fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills (
Defense Daily, Oct. 2).
While the law generally holds funding for government programs steady, the Navy got an anomaly, or exception, of appropriations of up to $621 million to procure the second nuclear-armed Columbia-class SSBN, the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN-827).
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month, Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti said it is “absolutely critical” that the legislators approve an anomaly for Columbia-class boats under any CR so the Navy can keep building the second vessel.
“We have nine ships in the budget request and we won’t be able to start on four of them under a CR, so Columbia is one of them and we essentially need an anomaly to be able to not get behind on our commitment to deliver on the strategic deterrent for our nation,” she said.
Franchetti was nominated in July by President Biden to be the next CNO. In August she took over from former CNO Adm. Michael Gilday in an acting position until her confirmation vote, amid Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) blanket hold on high level military promotions (Defense Daily, July 21).
Navy leadership consistently calls the Columbia-class submarines their top priority, as they are set to start replacing the Ohio-class SSBNs in 2031.
The Navy aims for the first boat, the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826), to be delivered by General Dynamics Electric Boat [GD] by the fall of 2027 so that it can perform testing and be ready for its initial 2031 deployment and maintain the nuclear deterrent force and current levels.
During the same hearing, Franchetti confirmed that while the first Columbia-class boat is no longer on the accelerated schedule that sought to deliver it six months earlier than obligated by contract, they are still meeting the regular obligation timeline, but without that added margin.
She reiterated the Navy developed a mitigation strategy to extend some up to five Ohio-class submarines, to buy back more margin if needed.
While the Columbia-class program received the anomaly, the Navy cannot work on the next Constellation-class frigate, Virginia-class attack submarine and submarine tender without the full FY 2024 appropriations bill.