The US Navy is canceling its future frigates in a blow to its ambitions to grow the fleet

"The US Navy is canceling the last four ships of its Constellation-class guided missile frigates in a "strategic shift, the service secretary announced Tuesday. The frigate program has faced increasing scrutiny over its design issues and the shipbuilding schedule, but the Navy was determined to acquire 20 Constellation frigates, which were crucial to the service's fleet-size goal. Navy Secretary John Phelan announced the cancellation in a post on X on Tuesday, saying the last four ships ordered for the program would be terminated."

"Work, he said, will continue on the two vessels currently under construction. In his remarks, Phelan said that "while work continues on the first two ships, those ships remain under review as we work through this strategic shift." The Constellation frigates were being built by Wisconsin-based Fincantieri Marinette Marine, which won the contract for the new ships in 2020. The $22 billion program for 20 vessels in total has been a topic of criticism from lawmakers, US military leaders, and President Donald Trump."

"A Government Accountability Office report pinned delays and cost overruns on the Navy decision to start building the first ship in the class before the design was finished, among other missteps. The Navy also tried to speed up construction by leaning on technologies already proven on other vessels, the watchdog noted in its report last year. Phelan said that although the Navy was no longer pursuing the program, keeping shipbuilders, a "critical workforce," employed and the yard ready for future projects was a major concern."

The Navy canceled the final four Constellation-class guided-missile frigates, ending plans to acquire 20 ships in that program. Work will continue on the two vessels currently under construction, though those ships remain under review during a strategic shift. Wisconsin-based Fincantieri Marinette Marine was the prime builder after winning the 2020 contract. The $22 billion program drew criticism from lawmakers, military leaders, and the president. A GAO report attributed delays and cost overruns to beginning construction before the design was complete and other missteps. Leadership emphasized preserving the shipbuilding workforce and keeping yards ready to build other ships faster.

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