# US Trump‑class nuclear battleship program

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-trumpclass-nuclear-battleship-program
> Updated: 2026-08-06T21:08:44.000Z. Sources: 42. Developments: 2.

In August 2026 the Congressional Budget Office released its estimate confirming earlier projections: the 15‑ship Trump‑class fleet will cost roughly $275 billion, with the lead USS Defiant at $23.4 billion and the remaining vessels averaging $18 billion each. The 35,000‑ton ships will be armed with hypersonic missiles, rail‑guns, high‑energy lasers and nuclear‑armed cruise missiles. Construction is slated to begin in fiscal year 2028, with a new hull launched about every two years through 2056. Only Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat have the capacity to build the required nuclear‑propulsion systems, raising concerns about schedule delays and possible cost overruns. Critics, including Senator Jeff Merkley, continue to label the program wasteful. The Navy has noted that expanding the fleet to 25 ships could push total costs above $455 billion, keeping the affordability debate active.

## Claims

- The Congressional Budget Office estimates the total cost of the 15 Trump‑class nuclear warships at $275 billion. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The first ship, USS Defiant, is projected to cost $23.4 billion. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Each of the remaining 14 ships will cost about $18 billion. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Construction of the Trump‑class ships is planned to start in 2028 and continue through 2056, with a new ship roughly every two years. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The program was announced by Donald Trump in December 2025 as part of a “Golden Fleet” initiative. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The Trump‑class ships will be equipped with hypersonic missiles, railguns, advanced lasers and cruise missiles. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Senator Jeff Merkley criticized the Trump‑class warship program as wasteful. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Only Newport News Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat are capable of building nuclear‑propulsion warships in the United States. (corroborated by 4 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-06: US Navy's Trump‑class battleship program projected to cost $275 billion

The CBO projects the US Navy’s Trump‑class battleship program at $275 billion for 15 nuclear ships, each $23.4 billion for the first and $18 billion for the rest, with construction from 2028‑2056 and critics de

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-authorizes-275-billion-trumpclass-battleship-construction

### 2026-08-04: US Trump‑named nuclear battleship fleet projected to cost $275 billion

CBO says Trump's 15‑ship nuclear battleship fleet would cost $275 billion, with the lead USS Defiant at $23.4 billion and an average $18 billion per vessel.

35 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-trumpclass-nuclear-aircraft-carriers-projected-to-cost-275-billion

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Cite as: US Trump‑class nuclear battleship program. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-trumpclass-nuclear-battleship-program