Del Toro warns appropriators of widespread delays for Navy if 6-month CR passes

WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro warned congressional appropriators that numerous high-profile shipbuilding efforts — Columbia and Virginia-class submarines as well as certain aircraft carriers — would suffer programmatic setbacks if lawmakers pass a six-month continuing resolution.

“This lengthy delay in new funding would force the Department of the Navy to operate at last year’s funding levels with the negative consequences lasting far beyond the time frame of the CR, impeding our ability to field the force needed to defend our nation while imposing unnecessary stress on our sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families,” he wrote in a letter dated Sept. 12 and made public by Del Toro’s office today.

Under a six-month CR, according to Del Toro, both the Virginia- and Columbia-class programs would face schedule delays or postponed construction cycles.

“A six-month CR risks delaying critical investments in the submarine industrial base and the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) partnership,” he wrote.

The half-year CR would also further delay the John C. Stennis (CVN-74), an aircraft carrier that has been undergoing its mid-life overhaul for more than five years and is past due to return to the fleet.

The secretary further wrote there would be delays to the “ongoing and planning Nuclear Command, Control and Communications engineering activities” being done in conjunction with US Strategic Command as well as development and procurement of conventional munitions.

In total, Del Toro said 20 construction projects, five research and development efforts, up to 58 ship maintenance availabilities, as well as procurement of five ships and various aircraft and munitions programs would also be set back under the six-month CR.

“The Department of the Navy stands ready to assist Congress in any way possible to ensure it has the information and resources to pass this essential legislation” he wrote.