The Congressional Budget Office estimates a 15-ship Trump-class nuclear fleet would cost about $275 billion through 2056, with the lead vessel, the U.S.S. Defiant, priced near $23.4 billion and the other 14 averaging about $18 billion each. Expanding the program to 25 ships could push costs to roughly $455 billion. Sen. Jeff Merkley, who requested the CBO analysis, condemned the proposal and said he will work to block funding and redirect money toward family-support programs.
CBO: Trump’s Proposed 'Golden Fleet' Could Cost $275B — Up To $455B If Expanded
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that President Donald Trump’s proposed "Golden Fleet" of nuclear-powered warships would cost roughly $275 billion if it consists of 15 Trump-class vessels built through 2056. The CBO report, requested by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), provides a ship-by-ship breakdown and highlights how quickly costs can climb if the plan is expanded.
Key Cost Estimates
The CBO pegs the lead ship, the U.S.S. Defiant, at about $23.4 billion, while the remaining 14 ships are projected to average approximately $18 billion each. If the plan were to grow to the 25-ship fleet Mr. Trump has at times proposed, the total price tag would rise to about $455 billion, according to the analysis.
Political Reaction
"At a time when families are struggling to afford groceries, gas, health care, and child care, Congress cannot throw hundreds of billions of dollars at Trump's 'Golden Fleet,' including plastering his name across a new battleship," Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a statement. "I will work with the Appropriations Committee to reject moving forward with this wasteful project, and instead invest in programs that help families thrive."
The CBO report is a fiscal snapshot intended to inform congressional deliberations. Lawmakers will weigh the strategic arguments for a larger carrier and nuclear-powered surface fleet against budgetary priorities and competing domestic needs.
What Comes Next
Congressional committees — including the Appropriations and Armed Services panels — will review the report as they consider defense budgets and long-term shipbuilding plans. Any decision to pursue a new class of large, nuclear-powered surface combatants would require sustained funding and oversight across multiple administrations and fiscal cycles.
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