The Navy’s so-called “next-generation” attack submarine, the SSN(X), is now officially delayed to 2040—leaving a gaping hole in America’s undersea arsenal just as our adversaries ramp up theirs and our own shipyards struggle to keep the lights on.
At a Glance
- The Navy’s SSN(X) submarine program has been delayed to 2040, a new five-year setback.
- The delay is a symptom of a deeper crisis: a hollowed-out U.S. defense industrial base that is struggling to build the ships we need.
- A severe shortage of skilled labor, from welders to engineers, and a fragile supply chain are the root causes of the production bottleneck.
- The U.S. now faces a dangerous capability gap as older submarines retire faster than new ones can be built.
The Real Reason for the Delay: A Broken Industrial Base
The U.S. Navy’s next-generation nuclear attack submarine (SSN(X)) has been delayed yet again, this time until 2040. While Washington bureaucrats blame budgets and schedules, the real reason is much more alarming: America is struggling to build things. A decades-long decay of our defense industrial base has left the nation with just two shipyards capable of building nuclear submarines, and both are completely overwhelmed.
This isn’t just a scheduling problem; it’s a national security crisis. As a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report made clear, the entire shipbuilding enterprise is in a “perpetual state of triage,” unable to keep up with current demands, let alone start a new, complex program like the SSN(X).
A Generational Crisis: Where Are the Workers?
At the heart of the crisis is a severe workforce shortage. The two critical shipyards—General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News—are struggling to hire and retain the tens of thousands of skilled workers needed. For every master welder who retires, there isn’t a new one ready to take their place.
For generations, America has devalued vocational training and skilled trades in favor of four-year college degrees. Now, we are paying the price. The Navy has admitted that a lack of skilled labor is a primary driver of the delays plaguing not just new construction but also the maintenance of our existing fleet.
A Fragile and Fractured Supply Chain
Beyond the shipyards, the vast network of smaller companies that supply critical components—from valves to electronics—is crumbling. After decades of consolidation and outsourcing, many of these highly specialized suppliers are sole-source providers. When one of them fails or falls behind, the entire production line grinds to a halt.
The delay of the SSN(X) is a warning light on the dashboard of American industrial power. Without a national, generational commitment to rebuilding our skilled workforce and securing our domestic supply chains, no amount of funding can fix the problem. Our adversaries are building their fleets at a breakneck pace; we are holding committee hearings. If this is what “progress” looks like, America is in deep trouble.
