The continuing resolution the House passed on Tuesday would add more than $1.5 billion to start building a warship that the Navy did not request and that experts suggest the shipbuilder may have trouble constructing on time and on budget.
The fiscal 2025 stopgap measure, which the Senate must clear by March 14 to avoid a government shutdown, would provide $892.5 billion for defense. That is $6 billion more for defense than was appropriated in fiscal 2024, a growth rate of less than 1 percent and not enough to outrun inflation.
Despite the funding constraints, members would add the sizable tranche of funds for the third, unrequested Arleigh Burke class destroyer, a warship that is built in states represented by senior defense lawmakers, in addition to proposing funding for the two Arleigh Burke ships that were requested.
