‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Will Have Maritime, Shipbuilding Impacts

In seeking to revive U.S. shipbuilding and maritime capabilities, President Donald Trump’s administration is pursuing an “everything all at once” strategy as it tries to catch up to the lead China has established in shipbuilding. In addition to initiatives already begun by presidential executive order and the recommendations of the U.S. trade representative, Trump’s $4.45 trillion “one big, beautiful bill,” which he signed into law on July 4, contains a number of important provisions relating to shipbuilding and other maritime matters.

These are all listed in two sections. The defense-related measures under Title II were prepared by the Committee on Armed Services. The Coast Guard measures under Title IV were prepared by the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Several provisions have implications for the commercial shipping sector.

The bill provides $23 billion in funding for the U.S. Coast Guard—the largest single appropriation in its history. Various items in that section support cutter, aircraft and icebreaker acquisitions, plus necessary infrastructure. The Coast Guard currently has just three Arctic icebreakers, versus Russia’s 57 ice-capable vessels, according to the Institute for Strategic Studies. Trump has repeatedly called for a fleet of 40 ice-capable vessels. Bollinger Shipyards and Edison Chouest Offshore announced a strategic partnership called United Shipbuilding Alliance in May to build icebreakers to meet “urgent Arctic operational needs.”

The bill directs about $29 billion toward revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding and maritime industrial base. Of that amount, roughly $5 billion supports naval shipbuilding initiatives. Other provisions support workforce training, additive manufacturing, advanced techniques, artificial intelligence-driven processes and supplier development.

Items in the maritime portions of the bill include those listed below.

• $250 million to expand accelerated training in defense manufacturing (shipyards)

• $250 million for U.S. production of turbine generators to support shipbuilding

• $450 million for additive manufacturing (wire production & machining) in the shipbuilding base

• $492 million to develop next‑generation shipbuilding techniques

• $85 million to produce U.S.-made steel plate for shipbuilding

• $50 million to expand machining capacity for naval propellers

• $110 million for rolled‑steel fabrication facilities

• $400 million to expand a collaborative naval shipbuilding campus

• $450 million for artificial intelligence/autonomy applications in naval shipbuilding

• $500 million to adopt advanced manufacturing techniques in the maritime industrial base

• $500 million to add dry‑dock capacity

• $50 million to expand cold‑spray ship repair technologies

• $450 million for maritime industrial workforce‑development programs

• $750 million for supplier development across the naval shipbuilding base

• $250 million for additional advanced manufacturing processes