Opinion

All hands on deck: The unlikely workforce that can rebuild America’s fleet

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to uplift America and secure our shores

By John Koufos Fox News

Published July 8, 2026 5:00am EDT

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US Navy admiral details New York Harbor's historic naval review

Chief of U.S. Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle joins 'Fox & Friends' to discuss New York's historic 250th anniversary International Naval Review and outline aggressive new strategies to rapidly scale the fleet.

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America's shipbuilding industry is facing a crisis of terrifying proportions. In a recent stark warning, Senator Tim Sheehy exposed just how far we have fallen behind, noting that China is currently building ships 230 times faster than the United States and completing repairs 90% faster.

While a depleted military branch like the Army might be rebuilt in a year or two, Sheehy correctly pointed out that resurrecting our maritime industrial base is a much deeper, long-term challenge. Over the last three decades, we have allowed our shipbuilding capabilities to atrophy, trading vital heavy industry and shipyard space for waterfront condos and short-term financial optimization.

President Donald Trump took a critical first step to reverse this dangerous trend by signing the Executive Order Restoring America's Maritime Dominance in April 2025. This bold directive demands equally bold, innovative ideas to rapidly develop the next generation of American shipbuilders. To meet this national security imperative and answer the President’s call, we must look to an untapped, yet highly viable, labor pool: the thousands of individuals currently in our state prison systems who are ready to reintegrate into society and contribute to the American Dream.

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