Can Trump Grow The US Navy To Fight China?

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – Even if he can, it won’t be quick. As Navy leaders call for 381-ship fleet, Trump signs shipbuilding order aimed at revitalizing a US shipbuilding industry that has fallen well behind production levels of China.

The effort to build up the fleet to those numbers will take 30 years and will require investing at least $40 billion each year over the duration.

An estimated 250,000 skilled or well-compensated workers must be hired over the next decade to accomplish shipbuilding and vessel maintenance goals.

“Simply put, we need more ships delivered on time and on budget, and we are challenged in both of these arenas,” says the acting assistant secretary of the Navy.

There are currently fewer than 300 battle force ships in the fleet — and that number is expected to drop. Current projections indicate the Navy will retire close to a dozen more ships through 2027 than it expects to commission.

Maybe this guy can help – ‘Honey badger’ admiral, who has demanded accountability from America’s ailing shipbuilding industry, emerges as top contender for Navy chief.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

A budding DOD effort to shore up homeland installations with nuclear energy powered by microreactors is moving forward with 8 vendors qualified to proceed with demonstrating the technology.

Canadian and Finnish shipbuilders have made different offers to the US for the production of icebreakers, which must weigh what it values more: speed or its sovereign shipyard industry.

From bureaucracy to battle: Increase direct funding to combatant commanders. While it may be appealing and appropriate to aim for big-ticket program cancellations or giant policy shifts, there are smaller changes that can be made quickly to increase warfighter capabilities at the edge.

HOMELAND SECURITY

A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked Trump from ending Biden-era program that allowed parole for over half a million immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. (RELATED: Legal Showdown Ahead! Obama-Backed Judge Deals Crucial Blow To Trump’s Power)

Trump, Bukele say they won’t return mistakenly deported man to US, with the Salvadoran President telling reporters, ‘Of course I’m not going to do it.’

US deploys military plane to transport 10 alleged gang members to El Salvador.

About 90,000 tons of nuclear waste is stored across US at over 100 sites in 39 states, in a range of different structures and containers.

Investigators work to uncover the motive behind an arson fire at Pennsylvania Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion.

Navy buddy of doomed NYC helicopter pilot believes a maintenance issue caused the crash, saying he doubts the chopper fell into the Hudson River simply because it ran out of gas.

POLITICS

Removed Confederate monuments in Maryland to remain hidden, despite Trump executive order.

State Department wants staff to report anti-Christian bias under Biden, including formal or informal actions due to opposition to vaccines or personal pronoun choice.

Trump freezes more $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contracts to Harvard University after the Ivy League behemoth rejected the government’s DEI demands.

Will South Africa’s special envoy to the US’ previous comments about Donald Trump being ‘racist, homophobic’ come back to haunt him? (RELATED: Fake News Reaches New Low In Deranged Attack On Trump Supporters)

US POWER OVERSEAS

These are the approximate positions of the Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 14, 2025, based on Navy and public data.

Thousands of US troops are heading to Europe for large-scale Defender combat drills that will stretch from the Arctic to the Mediterranean region.

CHINA THREAT

China’s Xi Jinping urges Vietnam to resist ‘unilateral bullying’ as Xi tries to rally region in face of Trump tariffs.

China accuses US NSA of launching ‘advanced’ cyberattacks during Asian Winter Games, targeting essential industries.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Why Ukraine wants Germany’s Taurus missiles.

Trump derides Ukraine’s request to buy $15 billion worth of Patriot air defense systems.

Russia claims its deadly attack on Ukraine’s Sumy targeted gathering military forces as condemnation grows.

A new Russian offensive to gain territory in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkiv regions has yet to capture much territory. Despite amassing tens of thousands of troops on the border, Moscow doesn’t have the resources to get very far.

Russian military aircraft were tracked operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on Monday. No threat according to NORAD.

The Russians captured a US Bradley, and now they really want their own. The Bradley offers more protection and can fire more accurately than its Russian equivalent.

One of Russia’s most outspoken generals, sacked and detained after a withering attack on the Defense Ministry two years ago, is returning to the front in charge of notorious unit of ex-convicts.

IRAN THREAT/MIDEAST

Israel says it will expand its offensive across most of Gaza.

Iran is expected to resist a US proposal to transfer its stockpile of highly enriched, nearly weapon’s grade uranium to a third country – such as Russia – as part of Washington’s effort to scale back Tehran’s nuclear program.

SPACE THREAT

“Quick reaction” launches. Space Force is exploring options to use its new Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve to facilitate on-demand launches for getting much needed capabilities into orbit quickly.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

At least 300 civilians have been killed in attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on refugee camps in Sudan’s Darfur over the weekend.

13 million displaced as Sudan war enters third year: UN.

Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ public events.

US MILITARY

Army plans to dramatically accelerate M1 Abrams modernization instead of traipsing blindly through the byzantine labyrinth that is the regular defense acquisition process for its nearly 40-year-old tank.

As the Army explores how soldiers will use a slew of new ground and aerial drones in combat, it is moving out with a phased plan to field new Human Machine Integrated Formations (HMIF) in 2027.

Mysterious weapon fired from an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle’s BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missile launcher earlier this year was a Raytheon Coyote LE SR drone. It can be used for surveillance, electronic warfare and signal relay and as a kamikaze drone.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

READ NEXT: Prominent US Enemy Leader Killed