U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led a hearing on May 19 to examine the Department of the Navy’s readiness in response to global threats and efforts to strengthen the maritime industrial base.
The hearing included testimony from Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl L. Caudle, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith. The session focused on rebuilding and modernizing naval forces, expanding shipbuilding capacity, and meeting statutory requirements for fleet size.
In his opening remarks, Wicker said: “This morning, the committee meets to receive testimony on the posture of the Department of the Navy. I want to thank our witnesses, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric Smith, for being here and for their distinguished service and also for their testimonies early in a classified session.” He continued by supporting President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request: “It proposes $65 billion dollars for shipbuilding, to buy 18 battle force ships and 16 support vessels… This is the kind of leadership our Navy and our industrial base need. So, thank you and congratulations.”
Wicker also raised concerns about current plans not meeting requirements for amphibious readiness groups or destroyer replacement rates: “Current requirements dictate that we need the continuous presence of three amphibious readiness groups… This plan does all it can over the next five years but still leaves us approximately nine ships short.” He further questioned reductions in destroyer procurement as older vessels retire at higher rates.
On unmanned systems funding levels he said: “Congress invested $5 billion dollars in unmanned maritime systems in last year’s defense reconciliation bill… However, we see zero funding for small vessels.” He expressed concern about lack of funding requests for nuclear sea-launched cruise missile programs despite statutory direction.
Wicker concluded by warning against outsourcing shipbuilding abroad: “We must address any move to outsource shipbuilding to foreign countries… We have yet to see concrete details or proposals for NDAA.” According to the official website, Wicker has served Mississippi through various roles including as a U.S. House Representative and state senator.
