Pentagon considering proposal to transfer expired Navy funds to shipbuilding

Pentagon brass is considering a legislative proposal that would allow the Navy to redirect expired funding into the shipbuilding account, according to the defense secretary.

"We think that could generate at least $1 billion a year or so that we could plunge back into shipbuilding," Defense Secretary Mark Esper told Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) at a House Armed Services Committee hearing today.

The military regularly sends legislative proposals to lawmakers each year ahead of Congress crafting the annual defense policy bill. However, the Pentagon has not yet made public what proposals it submitted for the fiscal year 2021 bill.

Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley testified to lawmakers today about the Pentagon's FY-21 budget request.