When the White House champions U.S. naval strength, allies gain confidence, and adversaries take note.
Throughout his first term of presidency, President Donald Trump pledged to initiate a naval build-up for a U.S. Navy fleet of 350 ships.
To better compete against a surging China and fulfill his old campaign promise, Trump should make the Navy’s 2025 shipbuilding plan an administration priority during his first hundred days. The bold plan calls for expanding the fleet to 390 ships by 2054.
During World War II, the Navy’s eleven shipyards helped guarantee victory over Japan. Today, only four of those shipyards remain, and a single Chinese yard out-builds America’s entire shipbuilding capacity. Clearly, the United States is lagging behind not only its strategic competitor but also its past self.
In total, China has a shipbuilding capacity 232 times greater than the United States. Though U.S. warships still dominate in terms of tonnage, China’s navy has more hulls in the water. Geographic realities amplify the challenge—America patrols global sea lanes while China concentrates its growing fleet in nearby waters.
Recent events expose the urgency of naval modernization. Houthi missiles striking ships in the Red Sea demonstrates the ability of even non-state actors to threaten U.S. maritime interests. China’s arsenal presents an even greater threat, featuring “carrier killer” missiles designed to target America’s largest warships. These weapons signal the end of uncontested American naval supremacy and demand a fundamental rethinking of fleet design.
The Navy’s 2025 plan answers these challenges with a strategic pivot. Rather than purely relying on the firepower of carrier groups, the future fleet would disperse strength across smaller vessels. The blueprint calls for nimble frigates, patrol craft, and—most significantly—134 unmanned systems. This distributed force could sustain command of contested seas even with limited personnel, adapting American maritime power to an age of precision warfare.
But transforming blueprints into warships requires industrial revival. America’s shipyards stand ready to innovate, particularly in autonomous systems, if they see sustained demand. The challenge extends beyond hulls and hardware—the Navy needs skilled workers, expanded training programs, and clear pathways for veterans to join the shipbuilding sector. Only presidential leadership can catalyze this industrial transformation.
Just as President Ronald Reagan’s drive for a 600-ship navy helped break Soviet power, Trump’s endorsement of the 2025 plan could spark a generational renewal of American maritime strength. While President Joe Biden did not explicitly endorse the Navy’s plan as a priority, Trump can signal that rebuilding American sea power stands among his highest priorities.
Presidential focus on naval power reverberates beyond shipyards. When the White House champions maritime strength, allies gain confidence, and adversaries take note. China’s strategic planners carefully watch American naval commitments, knowing that sustained shipbuilding signals long-term resolve.
The choice ahead carries historic weight. Either America adapts its fleet for an era of great power competition or watches as China reshapes the Pacific balance of power. This endeavor demands more than presidential endorsement. Success requires a whole-of-government approach: expanded education and training programs, streamlined procurement, and sustained congressional support. But everything starts with a clear White House commitment. Just as Reagan’s naval buildup helped win the Cold War, Trump’s backing of the 2025 plan could preserve American maritime dominance through the China challenge. This is also the first time since WWII that the United States faces capable adversaries around the world from Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Indeed, the stakes transcend partisan politics. America’s command of the seas, maintained since World War II, faces its greatest test. The Navy has charted a course through these troubled waters. Now, it needs a president ready to commit American resolve and resources to this vital mission. Trump’s early endorsement of the 2025 plan would signal that America intends to retain its maritime edge—not just for this administration, but for generations to come.
Jonah Bock is Senior Research Assistant in Regional Cooperation and Coordination at ASPI USA. Jonah’s research encompasses Indo-Pacific regional security, specifically focusing on regional perceptions of the US-Australia alliance as well as great power politics in the Pacific.
Cameron Hendrix is a Senior Research Assistant in Allied Strategy at ASPI USA. He primarily focuses on the public perception of AUKUS in the United States and Australia, the history of American-Australian relations, and approaches to deterrence around the Indo-Pacific.
Image: The Mariner 4291 / Shutterstock.com.
