George Washington receives $31.9 million in reprogramming 

The Navy is reprogramming $31.9 million toward the refueling and complex overhaul of the aircraft carrier George Washington (CVN-73), which is over budget.

The service is reprogramming $23.8 million in unused funding for the expeditionary fast transport ship Newport (EPF-12) and $8.1 million for the expeditionary sea base ship Miguel Keith (ESB-5) to cover the cost overrun, according to the 2021 omnibus. Both of those ships have been delivered and have excess funds.

Huntington Ingalls Industries received a $2.8 billion contract in 2017 for the Washington refueling, and a contract modification for an additional $40 million in 2019.

As of April, the refueling and complex overhaul effort is 85% complete, according to an HII press release. The initial contract called for work to be completed by August 2021, and HII said in an April press release the ship is on track to be delivered to the Navy in 2022.

The omnibus states the Washington refueling is $21.6 million over budget due to poor cost performance on the basic construction contract; $7.2 million over budget due to habitability growth work including decking and gallery equipment; and $3.2 million over in command, control, communications, computers and intelligence cost growth.

The FY-22 budget request includes $2.6 million in maintenance funding for the Washington.