The recent short-term continuing resolution that averted a government shutdown Sunday allows the Navy to start construction on its next nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine.
The stopgap, which funds the government through Nov. 17, generally holds funding for government programs steady. However, the Navy got what is known as an anomaly that allows the service to spend $621 million more than what the stopgap otherwise allows on the second nuclear-armed Columbia-class SSBN, the future USS Wisconsin.
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti said it is “absolutely critical” that the legislators approve an anomaly for Columbia-class boats under any CR so the Navy can keep building the second vessel.
“We have nine ships in the budget request and we won’t be able to start on four of them under a CR, so Columbia is one of them and we essentially need an anomaly to be able to not get behind on our commitment to deliver on the strategic deterrent for our nation,” she said.
Franchetti was nominated in July by President Biden to be the next chief of naval operations. In August she took over from former chief Adm. Michael Gilday in an acting position until her confirmation vote, amid Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) blanket hold on high level military promotions.
Navy leadership consistently calls the Columbia-class submarines their top priority, as they are set to start replacing the Ohio-class SSBNs in 2031.
The Navy aims for the first boat, the future USS District of Columbia, to be delivered by General Dynamics Electric Boat by the fall of 2027 so that it can perform testing and be ready for its initial 2031 deployment and maintain the nuclear deterrent force and current levels.
During the same hearing, Franchetti confirmed that while the first Columbia-class boat is no longer on the accelerated schedule that sought to deliver it six months earlier than obligated by contract, they are still meeting the regular obligation timeline, but without that added margin.
She reiterated the Navy developed a mitigation strategy to extend some up to five Ohio-class submarines, to buy back more margin if needed.
A version of this story first appeared in Weapons Complex Morning Briefing affiliate publication Defense Daily.
