The Navy’s proposed Trump-class battleship will cost American taxpayers $275 billion over the life of the program, with the first vessel alone carrying a $23.4 billion price tag, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released Wednesday.
The Trump administration announced plans in December to build a new class of nuclear-powered battleships designated BBG(X). The 35,000-ton guided missile battleships would mark the return of America’s most powerful surface combatants, a ship class the Navy retired decades ago.
Staggering Per-Ship Costs Dwarf Carrier Program
The first-ship cost of $23.4 billion exceeds the price of a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, currently the most expensive warship in the world at roughly $13 billion per vessel. The total $275 billion program cost suggests the Navy plans to build approximately 12 battleships, though the CBO report does not specify final fleet numbers.
Nuclear propulsion adds significant expense but eliminates the need for refueling over the ship’s 50-year service life. The technology also provides unlimited range and the power generation capacity needed for directed energy weapons and advanced radar systems.
What Battleships Would Bring to the Fleet
Modern battleships would serve as heavily armored command platforms capable of surviving in contested waters where current destroyers and cruisers face increasing threats from anti-ship missiles. Proponents argue the ships’ thick armor and redundant systems make them more survivable than current vessels built with thin hulls to save weight.
The Trump-class design emphasizes offensive firepower with vertical launch systems for hundreds of missiles, plus possible integration of railguns or laser weapon systems that require massive electrical generation. The ships would provide visible American naval power in regions where competitors like China rapidly expand their fleets.
Budget Reality Check Ahead
Congress must appropriate funds for the program, and the staggering cost estimate arrives as lawmakers debate overall defense spending levels. The Navy’s current shipbuilding budget runs approximately $30 billion annually, meaning a single Trump-class battleship would consume nearly 80 percent of one year’s total shipbuilding funds.
The CBO report provides no timeline for construction, but naval shipbuilding programs typically span decades. Final costs often exceed initial estimates as technical challenges emerge during development.
Key Points
- Congressional Budget Office estimates Navy’s Trump-class battleship program will cost $275 billion total, with lead ship at $23.4 billion
- Nuclear-powered 35,000-ton battleships would be most expensive warships ever built, exceeding Ford-class carriers
- Program faces uncertain congressional approval as single ship would consume 80 percent of Navy’s annual shipbuilding budget
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/08/05/trump-class-battleship-program-will-cost-275-billion-cbo-report-says/ – August 06, 2026
