Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

Congressional Budget Office Analysis of the Navy’s December 2020 Shipbuilding Plan

The following is the April 22, 2021 Congressional Budget Service report, An Analysis of the Navy’s December 2020 Shipbuilding Plan.

From the report

Each year, as directed by the Congress, the Navy submits a report with the President’s budget describing the planned inventory, purchases, deliveries, and retirements of the ships in its fleet for the next 30 years. The Navy did not submit its 30-year shipbuilding plan with the fiscal year 2021 budget, but the Department of Defense submitted a plan to...

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/23/congressional-budget-office-analysis-of-the-navys-december-2020-shipbuilding-plan

Officials: the Philippines Expanding South China Sea Patrols Near Disputed Reef

Republic of the Philippines Navy ship BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150) steams in a multinational formation during a photo exercise off the coast of Hawaii during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise on Aug. 21, 2020. US Navy Photo

MANILA – The Philippines has sent additional ships on Tuesday to its maritime territory that is subject to China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, officials announced on Tuesday.

The Task Force-West under the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea deployed...

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/13/officials-the-philippines-expanding-south-china-sea-patrols-near-disputed-reef

Persistent Chinese Maritime Militia Presence off Philippines Raises Concerns in Manila

Overview of Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea and Chinese vessels moored in the waters surrounding the boomerang-shaped coral reef on March 23. MAXAR Photo

MANILA – Chinese maritime militia vessels remained berthed at the Whitsun Reef, which is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, lending credence to what Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana described as China’s plot to permanently occupy the feature.

Lorenzana disclosed on Saturday that at least 32 militia ships...

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/12/persistent-chinese-maritime-militia-presence-off-philippines-raises-concerns-in-manila

CNO: Pentagon Force Posture Review Will Inform Future Carrier Missions, Arctic Presence

USS Toledo (SSN-769) surfaces at Ice Camp Seadragon on the Arctic Ocean for Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2020. US Navy Photo

The chief of naval operations said an ongoing Global Force Posture Review led by the defense secretary could bring about changes to how aircraft carriers and other in-demand naval assets should be deployed around the world in the future, as one deployed carrier strike group that trained for a range of new missions is now in the Middle East conducting the same old missions of land...

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/05/cno-pentagon-force-posture-review-will-inform-future-carrier-missions-arctic-presence

HASC Members Pushing for SECNAV Nominee Ahead of Pentagon Budget Fight, Fleet Modernization

Flag of the U.S. Secretary of the Navy

Two members of the House Armed Services Committee today called for the Biden administration to hurry and nominate someone to serve as the next Navy secretary, as the sea service faces tough decisions about how to modernize the force and potentially a budget showdown with the other services competing for funding.

During a HASC seapower and projection forces subcommittee hearing today, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) used the waning moments of his time for...

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/18/hasc-members-pushing-for-secnav-nominee-ahead-of-pentagon-budget-fight-fleet-modernization

Dual Letters From Congress Signal Hill Headed for Defense Spending Showdown

NASA Photo

A debate between lawmakers over defense spending is brewing, as a group of progressive House members push for cuts to the defense budget while others argue for a boost to shipbuilding.

In a March 16 letter to President Joe Biden, 50 Democratic members of Congress argued for a decreased budget for the Defense Department.

“Recent reporting indicates that your first budget request to Congress will recommend the same level of Pentagon spending as the last fiscal year. While we are heartened...

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/16/dual-letters-from-congress-signal-hill-headed-for-defense-spending-showdown

Schultz: Coast Guard Units Remain in High Demand as Forces Stretches to Meet Needs

Adm. Karl Schultz, the commandant of the Coast Guard, speaks during the 2021 State of the Coast Guard Address in San Diego March 11, 2021. US Coast Guard Photo

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Coast Guard remains in big demand at home and overseas as it continues to modernize the service and develop its force, the service’s top officer said in an annual address last week.

Speaking Thursday in a hangar in San Diego for his third “State of the Coast Guard” address, Adm. Karl Schultz went over operations and...

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/15/schultz-coast-guard-units-remain-in-high-demand-as-forces-stretches-to-meet-needs

SECDEF Lloyd Austin’s Message to the Force

The following is the March 4, 2021 Department of Defense memo from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Message to the Force

MEMORANDUM FOR ALL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EMPLOYEES
SUBJECT: Message to the Force

As the Secretary of Defense, I am committed to ensuring that the Department develops the right people, priorities, and purpose of mission to continue to defend our Nation from enemies foreign and domestic. This will require aligning our priorities and capabilities to a changing and dynamic threat...

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/04/secdef-lloyd-austins-message-to-the-force

Berger Reaffirms Commitment to Force Design 2030 Overhaul In Memo to New SECDEF

Gen. David H. Berger addresses an audience of senior enlisted Marines and Sailors about Force Design at the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Symposium in Quantico, Va. on Oct. 17, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger is emphasizing his commitment to the service’s force design initiative in a recent memo to the new defense secretary, USNI News has learned.

In the late February memo, reviewed by USNI News, Berger stressed that the service will not ask for more...

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/01/berger-reaffirms-commitment-to-force-design-2030-overhaul-in-memo-to-new-secdef

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 1, 2021

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of March 1, 2021, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Total U.S. Navy Battle Force:297Ships Underway

Deployed Ships UnderwayNon-deployed Ships UnderwayTotal Ships Underway
562177

Ships Deployed by Fleet

Fleet Forces3rd Fleet4th Fleet

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/01/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-march-1-2021

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