Navy Would Be Harmed by Biden Policies

Originally published by The Epoch Times

A Biden administration means plans for expanding the Navy from the current 253 commissioned vessels to 355 ships, let alone the 500-ship plan recently unveiled by ousted Defense Secretary Mark Esper, will not happen. This will endanger the U.S. Navy, which still reels from the disastrous consequences of Obama-era budget sequestration and incompetent bureaucracy.

Democrats on Capitol Hill have no interest in the plan, and likely neither will Joe Biden. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) noted recently that the left-wing of his party would want to cut defense spending to pay for other programs.

“I was not a fan of the 355-ship Navy, because what does that even mean? What we need to focus on is capabilities. What are we trying to accomplish?” Smith asked last month in a video conference sponsored by the Center for New American Security, after previously stating, “I don’t think it’s achievable. The size of China. The size of Russia.”

“If we want to look like we’re tough, well 500 is more than 355, so by definition that’s tougher, right?” Smith continued. “No, capability is what matters. What are you trying to accomplish?”

A succinct rebuttal to Smith is that the U.S. Navy is overstretched and underfunded. A larger fleet combined with adequate funding could relieve significant pressure on the existing fleet due to wear and tear, as well as increase the Navy’s capabilities against Russia, China, and Iran.

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