In a fact sheet released Thursday, the White House confirmed the signing of a National Security Presidential Memorandum that seeks to expand naval construction capacity, modernize the maritime industrial base, and strengthen the country’s ability to compete with global shipbuilding powers.
Effective Thursday, the plan 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 that will be delivered to bridge gaps on a quick turnaround, with additional ships built in revitalized American shipyards.
Among the actions outlined, the memorandum directs the secretary of war to establish a fifth Naval shipyard, the first in over 80 years, to increase the nation’s submarine and aircraft carrier repair capacity. Furthermore, it calls for a new Component Repair Center to maintain, repair, and refurbish critical components supporting current submarine programs.
Additionally, the secretary of war will conduct a review and reorganization of Naval Sea Systems Command to address challenges affecting naval shipbuilding programs.
The Pentagon must also develop a plan to replace the Advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems and the Advanced Weapons Elevators with traditional steam and hydraulic systems during the construction of CVN-81.
The White House said the effort is intended to fix critical long-term issues in Navy shipbuilding and ship repair programs and restore capacity and competition to the maritime industrial base.
The memorandum builds on previous administration actions focused on maritime industrial capacity.
The administration highlighted investments in Coast Guard and Arctic security capabilities, including the construction of up to four Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) abroad to address urgent national security needs in the Arctic region, and the establishment of a new Office of Maritime and Industrial Capacity at the National Security Council in the White House to prioritize American Maritime Dominance.
Last year, US president Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to restore the American Maritime Dominance.
Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts included nearly $9bn to build a series of heavy, medium, and light arctic security cutters.
In February 2026, the White House released its Maritime Action Plan, which expands the Maritime Industrial Base to include investment and expansion of commercial and defense shipbuilding capabilities, component supply chains, ship repair and marine transportation capabilities, port infrastructure, and the adjacent workforce.
