UPDATE: Prez signs gov’t funding bill

The U.S. Senate finalized funding March 22 for the government through the end of September. However, in March 23 tweets, President Trump made an unexpected threat to veto the newly passed $1.3T spending measure, which could mean, if he follows through, cause a third federal government shutdown this year. The deadline for his signature is midnight Friday. But, within that overall federal budget, Congress gave support for Navy shipbuilding in the FY 2018 omnibus budget deal adding $3.3B for five additional ships to support growth for the fleet, and industrial base. The spending bill sets aside $23.8B for the Navy to buy 14 ships – five more than the service requested in its original $20.4B request. The additions include three Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). It also increases funding to start what is likely to be the first-in-class next-generation LX(R) amphibious warship, and a Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport. Highlights significant to the Gulf Coast include: $1.80B for the first next-generation LX(R) amphibious warship; $1.71B for the amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA-8) – both to be built at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss; $1.56B for three LCS – but didn’t indicate which of the two LCS builders – Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., or Lockheed Martin shipyard in Wisconsin - would get the contract(s); and $225M for an Expeditionary Fast Transport, which are built by Austal USA. For Navy aviation, $10.2B for 24 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters across the Air Force (10), Marines (4) and Navy (10); and $84M for six Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout Unmanned Aerials Vehicles. (Source: USNI 03/22/18) (Source: USNI News 03/22/18) UPDATE: President Trump signs government funding bill later in the day on March 23.