Trump Signs Orders to Enhance Arms Procurement and Shipbuilding, Simplify Arms Sales Process

April 10, 2025 TruthUSA

The president instructs the Pentagon to enhance investments from both the private and public sectors in the shipbuilding industry.

On April 9, President Donald Trump signed several new executive orders, including three that emphasize the significance of U.S. shipbuilding alongside other military procurement initiatives and the streamlining of the weapons systems transfer process to allied nations.

This set of executive orders comes as the Trump administration seeks to modernize the U.S. military-industrial framework and prepare military allies and partners to assume a more substantial role in shared foreign policy goals.

Shipbuilding has emerged as a critical focus amid increasing strategic rivalry with China.

China has been swiftly enlarging its naval battle force and, by 2020, had surpassed the United States as the largest naval force in terms of the number of ships in active service. Its navy continues to expand its lead.

According to the latest U.S. Defense Department report submitted to Congress in December 2024, the Chinese naval fleet comprises more than 370 ships and submarines.

In comparison, the U.S. Navy boasted a total of 297 ships in its fleet as of September 2024.

“We’re significantly lagging behind,” said Trump during the Oval Office signing event on April 9. “Our shipbuilding used to be at the rate of one ship per day, and now we are hardly producing one ship a year.”

As detailed in a White House fact sheet, Trump’s directive instructs the Pentagon to explore avenues for increasing both private and public sector investments in the shipbuilding sector.

With this order, the Trump administration aims to enhance competition within the private industry for government contracts, intending to lower costs.

The order also encompasses a variety of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the overall U.S. maritime sector, which includes improving U.S. Merchant Marine training and establishing Maritime Prosperity Zones to encourage waterfront communities to support maritime activities.

In addition to shipbuilding, Trump seeks to expedite the process of deploying other weapons systems.

According to a White House fact sheet published, the new Air Force One program is five years behind schedule, nine Navy ship initiatives are at least three years delayed, and the Air Force’s endeavor to replace its aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles is 37 percent over budget compared to its initial estimates.

“Given the rapid advancements in military technologies by competitors like China and Russia, it is crucial to prioritize speed, adaptability, and innovation to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities to our Armed Forces,” asserted the White House.

Trump’s military procurement order mandates that the Pentagon identify and eliminate redundant steps in the procurement process, as well as prioritize commercial solutions to fulfill orders and projects currently underway.

Furthermore, the Pentagon has been directed to reorganize its acquisition workforce and provide training for employees to discover more efficient methods for advancing procurement projects.

This order also specifically instructs a comprehensive review of all Major Defense Acquisition Programs.

A White House fact sheet indicated that any program that is either 15 percent behind schedule or over budget by 15 percent or more will be considered for potential cancellation.

Foreign Arms Sales

To enhance military collaboration with allies and partners, Trump’s directive requires the Departments of Defense, State, and Commerce to develop a plan within 90 days to simplify the approval process and increase transparency regarding arms sales.

Additionally, the order instructs the Department of Defense and the Department of State to compile a list of priority partners for future arms sales.

Trump has consistently encouraged numerous allies, particularly those within NATO, to increase their military expenditures.

The White House stated that this order will help minimize delays in arms transfers, allowing allies and partners to procure weapons more swiftly, thus enabling more effective joint operations and enhancing burden-sharing.

In addition to supporting its allies and partners, the White House noted that this order would benefit the United States by strengthening American supply chains, boosting domestic production, and promoting technological advancements.

While the Trump administration is intent on facilitating arms sales to NATO allies, many European members of the alliance are exploring strategies to enhance defense production capabilities within Europe, aiming to lessen their dependence on the United States.

Source link