Opinion

REP GARAMENDI, SEN KELLY: We must work together to make America a shipbuilding power

Trump's Maritime Action Plan and the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act target 250 new U.S.-flagged ships in a decade

By Rep. John Garamendi , Senator Mark Kelly Fox News

Published April 30, 2026 5:00am EDT | Updated April 30, 2026 5:20am EDT

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As international competition for trade, commerce and military power in the Pacific grow, America’s maritime decline threatens our national security and our economy. The only way to fix it is to rebuild American shipbuilding with American workers and American crews.

In the 20th century, we were a dominant maritime power, with massive fleets and shipyards that helped secure victory in World War II and meant most goods traveled the world on U.S.-built ships. But that edge has disappeared over time. For much of the 21st century, shipbuilding remained on the back burner of national priorities, shipyards shrank and closed, taking good-paying jobs with them.

China now dominates the world’s sea lanes and is massively outbuilding the United States on merchant and naval fleets. China has the world’s largest commercial fleet and is building over 1,000 vessels every year. In 2024, the United States built only five merchant vessels, while China........

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