Don't Build a Ghost Fleet
The Trump administration seems serious about resurrecting a domestic shipbuilding industry and increasing the size of the Navy. Both are admirable objectives, and neither is possible without the other—assuming that Congress could put aside partisan trench warfare long enough to agree on a multi-year Defense appropriation. There is broad agreement that the Navy
The President's Executive
The Administration's focus of commercial ships and yards is fine: without a larger, more predictable flow of both commercial and Navy construction, shipbuilders won't be able to attract or retain a skilled workforce or have the right financial incentives to invest in new technologies and infrastructure. It is well documented that many of the recent Navy cost overruns were the result of frequent construction
No discussion of Navy shipbuilding delays or cost-overruns could survive a smell test without upfront acknowledgement of the Navy's complicity. Choose a construction program: the
Ford
, the LCS, the DG-1000, the new
Ever an optimist, I'm hoping that the Maritime Action Plan will rub off on the Navy. Whether it can evolve into a mini-Operation Warp Speed is unclear. But I believe the White House needs to take on one more challenge simultaneously, or the commitment to build more ships will be for naught: we must figure out how to man not only the new ships, but our existing fleet.
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For years, the Navy has been unable to meet its recruiting goals. The Navy needs approximately 332,300 sailors and officers to man its current fleet of 295 ships. Because people retire and leave the service, the Navy
Staffing quasi-Navy ships is a problem too. The Navy has 61 U.S. Naval Service ships oilers, supply ships, transports, pre-positioned support vessels, two hospital ships—operated by the Military Sealift Command. Although owned by the Navy, they are crewed by civilians. Last summer, thee MSC
The Navy is not alone in its recruiting problems: the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard have all been having trouble meeting their targets. So, while it is encouraging that the Navy has met its most recent recruiting numbers, lowering standards is not a smart nor sustainable strategy, especially for a fleet that continues to get more technologically complex.
Some observers argue that crewed ships and airplanes with actual pilots are a thing of the past; and given the difficulty in attracting young people to serve in the military, we should just go all-in on drones. But a larger number of unmanned aircraft and vessels are already part of mix for the fleet of the future, and that is not going to ameliorate the need for people to join the military.
Just as President Trump tasked his National Security Advisor to deliver a Maritime Action Plan within seven months, he (or Congress) should demand a similar plan on how we are going to get people to serve in the armed forces. Nothing should be off the table, beginning with whether we still want—and can deliver—an all-volunteer military.
One top newspaper editor I recently spoke with said his paper supports the return of the draft. A retired advertising executive complained to me about the inanity of the Navy's recent ad campaigns—'Can anyone explain what 'Forged by the Sea' means?'—but doubted a new tag line would be enough to connect with Gen Z'ers or the younger Gen Alphas who follow. And last week, a freshman at Yale called me to brainstorm about how to get support for mandatory national service. (He had read several articles I had
We need to build more ships, and we need to do so smarter, faster, and cheaper. But if we don't also figure out how to man them, we will be building a ghost fleet.
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Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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Chicago Tribune
28 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
HUD Chicago office taking on more public housing authority oversight as staff dwindles regionally, nationally
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'As we move forward, unless we are able to hire, there are offices that will pick up more (of our) mission as we start to move on and continue to become more regionally focused,' said William Dawson III, HUD's Chicago public housing office director, at a recent Housing Authority of Cook County board meeting. President Donald Trump's administration has upended federal agencies such as HUD since his return to the Oval Office in January, slashing funding and staff. As Trump, Department of Government Efficiency workers and HUD Secretary Scott Turner tout the importance of cracking down on 'fraud, waste and abuse,' public agency employees are having to do more work with fewer staff members. Former HUD staffers told the Tribune that agency workers were already overburdened prior to Trump's cuts. Housing advocates and local and state officials fear the reduction in force at HUD will do the opposite of what Trump and DOGE set out to do. HUD did not respond to a list of questions by the Tribune's deadline. Locally and nationally, HUD has seen numerous employees retire early, with others being laid off or taking the federal government's deferred resignation program. As of May, HUD had about 6,000 workers after a reduction of approximately 2,300 employees, said Antonio Gaines, president of AFGE's National Council 222, the group that represents 40 local HUD unions nationwide, at a spring meeting with local union leaders. HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced in a video on social media in February that a DOGE task force had launched at HUD. That same week, a document circulated among HUD workers that was reported on by national news outlets and obtained by the Tribune showing HUD's workforce could be halved. It indicated that the total agency head count as of Jan. 21 was about 8,300, with some departments slated for more drastic staff reductions than others. 'People aren't going to be able to get their questions answered,' said U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat, in a recent interview with the Tribune. 'Programs aren't going to be publicized, and people won't know they exist.' Chicago's public housing division shrunk from 24 employees to 17, mainly stemming from the resignation programs, Dawson said at the board meeting. New York's public housing division, previously the country's largest, Dawson said, now employs 14 staffers from a peak of 40. Milwaukee's public housing division stands at four employees. HUD did not respond when asked how many Milwaukee workers have left since the inauguration. Kristin Faust, the executive director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority — the state agency in charge of financing affordable housing, including by administering the federal tax credit program that is the primary mechanism for developing affordable housing in the U.S. — told the Tribune that the authority is expecting response rates from HUD to slow. 'Thus far, we haven't seen that a lot, but I have had individual conversations with HUD staff and my sense is that a lot of them feel like they are doing two to three people's jobs,' Faust said. 'They are very motivated and that is not sustainable.' Trump has proposed a roughly 43% budget slash to HUD programs, as well as a shake-up in the funding structures of the programs. In his first term, Trump also proposed sweeping cuts to HUD, but did not achieve them. The House appropriations subcommittee on HUD will meet Monday to hash out specific agency appropriations packages after the passage of Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' The Illinois Housing Development Authority's board, which is bipartisan, approved a resolution at the end of last month objecting to the proposed HUD cuts. Quigley, a member of the House appropriations subcommittee that manages HUD funding, pressed Secretary Turner in a June meeting to provide details on how cutting HUD's budget so drastically will lead to more efficiency. In an exchange between Quigley and Turner, Turner brought up his Christian faith, did not provide the requested details and said, 'We look forward to working with you. It is not just words.' 'There is a thoughtful middle ground to being frugal and efficient in government,' and it's not this proposal, Quigley told the Tribune. Housing authorities across the country are already facing serious budget shortfalls. The Housing Authority of Cook County is facing a potential multimillion-dollar funding shortfall that could have repercussions throughout the real estate market as the struggling agency looks to cut costs, possibly leading to greater expenses for its housing voucher holders and a decline in the number of the people it serves. The agency attributes the shortfall to an increase in its voucher usage rate and rising rents, which eat into its limited dollars allocated by HUD. Chicago-area housing organizations are also facing funding cuts from HUD, with some receiving termination notices for grants in March, while others are in limbo as they wait for overdue contracts or to see what happens with expected awards. Some renovation projects aimed at preserving and greening existing affordable housing properties are on hold in Chicago as well, as the Trump administration takes aim at the program. At a recent Housing Authority of Cook County board meeting, Dawson told the board he was heartened to be with them to lead a refresher training on their responsibilities as commissioners. But he wasn't physically there. His face showed up in a small box in the corner of a screen in a housing authority conference room while he sat in his office, four blocks away. The Trump administration enforces new procedures that limit federal government employees' travel. HUD had not approved Dawson's in-person attendance, which required a roughly eight-minute walk. ekane@
Newsweek
31 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Can Trump's Patriot Missiles Help Ukraine Turn the Tide Against Russia?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States will send additional Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine, part of a European Union–funded deal intended to bolster Kyiv's defenses against intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks and coming as President Donald Trump is voicing increased frustrations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Sunday, Trump confirmed that Patriots "which they desperately need" would be sent, paid for "100 percent" by European allies. Trump, returning to Washington from New Jersey, added pointedly: "He [Putin] talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening. I don't like it." Trump is expected to announce further measures on Russia in meetings with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and lawmakers this week. Germany has already agreed to finance at least two Patriot batteries, and Norway reportedly joined in funding additional units. Ukraine currently operates a small number of Patriots donated during the Biden administration but has pleaded for more to defend critical infrastructure and population centers. This photograph taken during sunset on March 6, 2025 shows Patriot air defence systems installed at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, a logistics hub for US and European military aid to Ukraine, in Jasionka, south-eastern Poland. This photograph taken during sunset on March 6, 2025 shows Patriot air defence systems installed at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, a logistics hub for US and European military aid to Ukraine, in Jasionka, south-eastern Poland. Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images What is the Patriot system? 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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following Russia's drones attack in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following Russia's drones attack in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. AP Cancian stressed that Ukraine's needs extend far beyond air defenses. "It also needs weapons, munitions, and supplies across the board since its armies in combat go through these at a high rate," he said. The EU deal is meant to show the West's united front against Russian aggression, to force Moscow to "participate in ceasefire negotiations," he said. "But the real battlefield need is broader — Ukraine needs a wide range of air defenses for the drones and low-cost attacks they face daily, and they need weapons, munitions, and supplies of all kinds. Patriot is important, but it is not a game changer by itself." Why is the U.S. sending more aid now? Trump's decision to broker the EU deal reflects both a response to Ukraine's urgent pleas and his own frustrations with Putin's continued escalation in spite of White House efforts to bring him to the negotiating table. As Trump himself said: "We're not paying anything for them... but we will get them Patriots." The announcement also reverses a months-long freeze on U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently told reporters after meetings with European leaders that he had received "all necessary political signals" for aid to resume and described his dialogue with Trump as "constructive and very positive." 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CNBC
32 minutes ago
- CNBC
The House will vote on a bill to regulate stablecoins during 'Crypto Week'—what it could mean for you
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins, known as the GENIUS Act, this week as part of its self-dubbed "crypto week." The House will also consider two other crypto-related bills this week: The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which aims to regulate crypto by establishing roles for the Securities Exchange and Commodity Futures Trading Commissions in regulating digital tokens, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which would prevent the Federal Reserve from issuing a digital U.S. dollar. The GENIUS Act passed the Senate in June with bipartisan support. House leaders expect to pass the GENIUS Act and send it to President Donald Trump's desk. "House Republicans are taking decisive steps to deliver the full scope of President Trump's digital assets and cryptocurrency agenda," House speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement. "I look forward to President Trump signing them into law." Some Democrats oppose the GENIUS Act and other crypto measures. Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) announced their own "anti-crypto corruption week" to oppose the crypto bills up for passage. The GENIUS Act aims to regulate the roughly $238 billion stablecoin market, per CoinDesk data, creating a clearer framework for banks, companies and other entities to issue the digital currencies. Here's what to know about what's included in the bill and how it could impact investors — even those who don't hold crypto. A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency that is pegged to another asset, typically the U.S. dollar, which makes it less volatile than other cryptocurrencies tend to be. The currency is used in a number of ways, including for payments and futures trading. Since they're also more predictable than regular crypto tokens, traders also use stablecoins "to sit out times of volatility or market downturns," says Nic Puckrin, a crypto analyst, investor and founder of The Coin Bureau. "Stablecoins are also being used increasingly in emerging markets, like Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, to hedge against monetary instability, as well as for cheap cross-border payments," he adds. "The use cases are very broad, and new ones are emerging all the time." Ultimately, the GENIUS Act could make stablecoins more mainstream by bolstering trust in the currency and encouraging more competition in the market, Puckrin says. "Right now, [the stablecoin market] is, for all intents and purposes, a duopoly. The market is nearly entirely dominated by Circle's USDC and Tether's USDT," Puckrin says. Since the bill will create a clear pathway for banks and other entities to begin issuing stablecoins, "we'll likely see a flood of them rush into the market at the start," he says. Big banks are gearing up to create their own coins. And while they may not all be successful, Puckrin says they will give consumers more options to find a stablecoin and issuer that works best for their needs. Proponents say it will help safeguard investors and regulate the stablecoin market by ensuring issuers have the reserves needed to give stablecoins their value. "If we fail to act now, not only will these benefits slip away — we will also fall behind in global competitiveness," Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who introduced the bill, said during the Senate debate in June. "Without a regulatory framework, stablecoin innovation will proliferate overseas — not in America!" Puckrin agrees stablecoin regulation could be a boon for the U.S. and its position in the global economy. "Congress has also realized that instead of threatening the U.S. dollar, stablecoins can help cement its global dominance, because 99% of stablecoins are pegged to USD," he says. "With the dollar struggling to maintain its role in the global economy, the GENIUS Act could just be the thing that saves it." Some supporters acknowledge the bill isn't perfect, but think it's better than not having regulation on stablecoins at all. "The general outlook is that [the bill] will do better than anything that is currently happening," says Bezalel Eithan Raviv, CEO of blockchain security firm Lionsgate Network. "It's a step in the right direction for everyone. There are ways to make it better. There are ways to make everything better. But this is the first one. Let's give it a try, and it will ripple in many ways." Critics of the GENIUS Act argue it compromises crypto's decentralization and could enable corruption, such as officials favoring specific stablecoins under new regulations. "We need guardrails that ensure that government officials aren't openly asking people to buy their coins in order to increase their personal profit or their family's profit," Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who opposed the bill, said during the Senate debate. "Where are those guardrails in this bill? They're completely, totally absent." Some critics also say the bill gives too many entities the ability to create new stablecoins, which could make enforcement of the regulation standards more difficult. "As long as issuers are clearly following the rules and regulations, more competition in the stablecoin landscape is both welcome and necessary," Puckrin says. During the GENIUS Act's initial passage through the House, some members sought to attach amendments, including proposals from the Credit Card Competition Act. The latter, introduced in 2023 but previously stalled, aimed to boost credit card payment competition by requiring issuers to allow more than two networks (beyond mainly Visa and Mastercard) to process transactions. Some legislators saw enough similarities between the credit card and stablecoin marketplaces to justify adding the CCCA to the GENIUS Act, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) nixed that plan, fearing the CCCA's inclusion could cost votes in favor of the larger bill. Still, the GENIUS act could impact retailers outside of crypto, Puckrin says. "We'll likely see stablecoins increasingly adopted as a digital alternative to the U.S. dollar, so banks, fintechs and merchants will be forced to offer stablecoin payment options," he says. "Eventually, payment networks like Visa and Mastercard will have to do so as well, which will lead to lower fees. The CCCA proposals are an inevitable evolution of the GENIUS Act. It will just take a little longer if it isn't written into law."
