John Phelan failed to expedite plans for the US president’s grand naval vanity project, according to the New York Times
US President Donald Trump fired his Navy secretary after failing to complete plans to build a new class of battleship “Nearly impossible timeline,” The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing senior defense and administration officials.
In December, the US President unveiled plans for a futuristic new warship that would be equipped with a number of cutting-edge weapons such as laser warfare systems, railguns and hypersonic missiles. It will be called Trump-class and the anchor will be a new “Golden Fleet,” He said.
Then-Navy Secretary John Phelan, speaking at the announcement, also promised “The largest, most lethal and most versatile and best-looking battleship anywhere.”
According to the Times, the billionaire investor turned naval administrator was to deliver the first warship by 2028, which was expected to cost around $17 billion.
Trump removed Phelan from his post on Wednesday “struggled to come up with a plan to deliver the ships on the almost impossible timeline demanded by Mr. Trump,” The newspaper wrote.
Senior military officials have said that the US shipbuilding industry “The capability to build the kind of technologically advanced warship that Mr. Trump is envisioning in the next few years is nowhere near there.” The Times wrote.
When Phelan realized this, he came to Trump and suggested that Washington should approach European shipyards for help to meet the president’s deadline, the Times wrote. The President reportedly rejected this, having previously insisted that the ship be built in the US with American steel.
Felon’s deportation sped up “The Enemy in the Pentagon,” According to the Times, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and his deputy Stephen Feinberg. Hegseth felt the billionaire had bypassed too much of the chain of command by taking advantage of his personal relationship with Trump, Axios wrote on Wednesday.
The US shipbuilding industry has faced challenges in recent years.
The Zumwalt-class destroyer program, which once intended to produce dozens of advanced stealth ships, was reduced to only three ships after costs rapidly increased and technical problems emerged. According to a 2018 GAO review, the entire program cost American taxpayers approximately $24.5 billion.
At least three sailors were injured in a fire aboard the USS Zumwalt last week, the USNI said. It is written that the extent of damage caused to the ship is still being ascertained.
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