Wilson Grossman-Trawick

Floridian in D.C. @SAISHopkins Alum. I like bikes, foreign affairs, & politics. All views are my own.

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

Whether the U.S. government ultimately approves this deal will be a key test of the Trump administration’s commitment to promoting competition in the U.S. shipbuilding sector.

[Bloomberg @business]

Hanwha has made a preliminary offer to acquire Austal's US shipbuilding operations for up to $850 million as the South Korean company steps up its efforts to capture a greater slice of rising global defense spending https://t.co/J7L6Itu5Yx

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

Battleships are back in the headlines. But the more important question we should ask is: who should be steering U.S. naval shipbuilding policy — the White House or Congress?

My latest in @USNIProceedings

https://t.co/rrYbG5j6nd

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

For the cost of 15 Trump-class battleships, you could buy double, perhaps even triple the number of Virginia-class SSNs, depending on how you crunch the numbers.

[The New York Times @nytimes]

Breaking News: A new class of warships backed by President Trump will cost 50% more than expected, for a total cost of $275 billion. https://t.co/LYRSNDtaCJ

[Decker Eveleth @dex_eve]

State behavior is partly driven by capabilities. I have heard many confidently say that Chinese behavior will not change as their military expands. But when China has multiple ocean-going carrier groups in a decade, we should anticipate that their approach to shaping the world will change.

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

@AnthonyClose @UFSenate “Not to make everything about UFSG but….”

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

I joined @WarOnTheRocks’ The Insider podcast to discuss my recent piece on South Korea’s nuclear submarine program. We discussed the costs, why I remain skeptical, and what I’m watching as the program develops.

Members can check it out at the link below: https://t.co/og6GhgN18c

[John Hudson @John_Hudson]

tfw you used Claude to write your NDAA amendment but forgot to hide your tracks

[War on the Rocks @WarOnTheRocks]

South Korea is a dominant global shipbuilder. That doesn’t automatically qualify it to produce nuclear submarines. https://t.co/1iM6MxQcI7

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

South Korea recently unveiled its roadmap to build nuclear submarines. It's one of Seoul's top military priorities — and I think it could backfire. My new piece in @WarOnTheRocks
https://t.co/BeGPGCztdr

[🇺🇸𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿⚓️ @USN_Submariner]

Wow! 🤩 New view of the largest submarine ever built by the US. Getting close. Expect to see the build milestone “pressure hull complete” for District of Columbia in the next few months.

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

The chances that this program, which accounts for $43.5B in new spending over the FYDP, will ever sail decrease daily

This growing gap between the admin's shipbuilding plans&congressionally-funded reality distorts what the industrial base should focus on
https://t.co/FOTOj46o2a

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

The biggest takeaway from the FY27 shipbuilding plan? The Trump-class battleship eats most new $$$ and may crowd out other priorities.

Compared to the Biden administration’s FY25 plan, the Navy would increase new-construction shipbuilding spending by more than $100B over 5 years

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

Interesting. The chairman’s mark sets preconditions for a major presidential priority, signaling that the contentious program - which affects many naval force structure and shipbuilding decisions - lacks buy-in from key congressional stakeholders & faces growing political risk.

[Tyler Rogoway @Aviation_Intel]

Congress Moves To Block Trump Class Battleship Work Until Its Key Weapons Are Mature

Such a delay could end the battleship program before it really starts, and the House Armed Services Committee is also demanding answers on the new frigate.

https://t.co/oTwB82nDeq

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

I’ve argued that Congress’ ability to create policy stability & longevity from a series of complex industrial and political trade offs makes it the branch of government better suited to crafting successful shipbuilding policy vs. the executive branch’s historic seesaw method

[TheHistoryOfTheAmericans @TheHistoryOfTh2]

Fun fact: When Thomas Jefferson asked Congress for six frigates to fight Muslim pirates attacking American shipping, they had to be built in six different shipyards in order to get the votes.

This is not a new problem.

[Anthony Adragna @AnthonyAdragna]

The NDAA would also bar construction of the first "Trump-class" battleship until the Navy certifies it has met "sufficiently mature technology readiness level."

[Christopher Wipper @SGTWipper1Each]

Guided missile cruiser, USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) sits off of Manhattan after the parade of ships at the start of Fleet Week.

April 29, 1989.

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

The Navy released its 30-year shipbuilding plan earlier this week. This plan is the clearest signal yet of how the Trump administration wants to reshape U.S. naval power — and how it intends to spend its record $65.8B budget request.

A few takeaways 🧵

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

The biggest takeaway from the FY27 shipbuilding plan? The Trump-class battleship eats most new $$$ and may crowd out other priorities.

Compared to the Biden administration’s FY25 plan, the Navy would increase new-construction shipbuilding spending by more than $100B over 5 years

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

Will Congress’s lack of support matter? Also doubtful!

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

The Navy released its 30-year shipbuilding plan earlier this week. This plan is the clearest signal yet of how the Trump administration wants to reshape U.S. naval power — and how it intends to spend its record $65.8B budget request.

A few takeaways 🧵

[Wilson Grossman-Trawick @WilsonTrawick]

The most interesting and novel parts of the plan may be allied shipbuilding. The Navy explicitly endorses: Overseas fabrication of combatant modules, Foreign subcontracting for non-sensitive work, and the “bridge strategy” model.

Will Congress support? Doubtful.