WASHINGTON — Republicans defeated an amendment to the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill that would have stripped $1 billion in funds for the Trump-class battleship during a House Armed Services Committee mark up of the bill today.
The amendment, offered by HASC’s top Democrat Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, would have zeroed out advanced procurement funds for the BBG(X) but was defeated in a 26–30 vote. Democratic Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina voted with Republicans.
Citing the Congressional Budget Office’s projection that the lead Trump-class battleship could cost about $20 billion, Smith argued that the Navy should put that funding toward autonomous drone ships.
“Whatever the number is [for the BBG(X) program], I’m going to give you right one of the surest fire Kalshi bets you will ever have: Take the over,” he said. “Whatever they come up with the number, it’s going to wind up higher.”
HASC Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., spoke against the amendment, stating that the battleship’s requirements were spawned out of the studies for a next-generation destroyer done by the Biden administration.
