The Department of the Navy’s (DON) FY 2024 President’s Budget (PB24) request is $255.8B, an increase of $11.1B or 4.5% from the FY 2023 enacted budget.
The PB24 request reflects the nation’s priorities as detailed in U.S. strategic guidance. At the top of this hierarchy is the President’s National Security Strategy followed by the 2022 National Defense Strategy. Our request supports the tenets of our national defense that are integrated deterrence, campaigning, and actions that build enduring advantages. Secretary Del Toro’s strategic guidance solidifies that we are One Navy-Marine Corps Team, and it remains fully nested within the National Defense Strategy. The Secretary identifies three enduring priorities: strengthen maritime dominance, build a culture of warfighting excellence, and enhance strategic partnerships.
Aligned with Secretary Austin’s three priorities, our request demonstrates the Department’s commitment to providing a ready, modernized, and capable naval force that continues to be the nation’s primary instrument of sea control both now and into the future. PB24 resources the second Columbia-class submarine, our nation’s most survivable leg of the nuclear triad, and resources an on-track delivery of the first vessel in FY28. Our request funds both private and public sector ship maintenance to 100%, with a focus on increasing capacity and retaining highly skilled labor at our public shipyards. Research & Development increases by nearly a billion dollars, investing in modernizing our warfighting capabilities across all domains. We also added nearly two billion dollars to our weapons programs, investing in critical munitions and supporting multi-year procurement contracts. Our PB24 request contains a substantial 5.2% pay raise for military and civilian personnel while we expand access to mental health care and provide significant resources towards the prevention of sexual assault and harassment.
With $1.9 billion requested in FY 2024, the Department will finance the seventh increment of funding for the third Ford-class carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 80), and the sixth increment of funding for the fourth Ford-class carrier, USS Doris Miller (CVN 81). The Columbia-class program request is $5.8 billion and includes the first of two increments of funding for the second submarine to be awarded in FY24.
For aircraft procurement, the PB24 request of $17.3B supports the procurement of 88 aircraft including 35 F-35s, 26 Multi-Engine Training System, 15 CH-53K, 5 MQ-9A, 3 MQ-25, 2 MQ-4, and 2 KC-130Js, as well as modification, spares, and support equipment. This request completes aircraft procurement of KC-130J, MQ-4C and MQ-9A in FY24.
The DON’s FY 2024 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy (RDT&E, N) budget supports the DON future force by funding development and deployment efforts and supporting capabilities across the spectrum of conflict. Science and technology (S&T) research is vital to provide for future technologies that support innovative capabilities in shipbuilding, aviation, weapons, and expeditionary equipment. Beyond the S&T phase, research and development (R&D) is fundamental to major acquisition programs such as the Columbia class ballistic submarine program, which recapitalizes our strategic nuclear deterrent. Other major areas of R&D effort include investments in future aircraft carrier, surface, submarine, and logistics vessels; unmanned systems; electromagnetic warfare; and cyberspace warfare. The FY 2024 RDT&E, N budget provides investment in the development of Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) to deliver a hypersonic offensive strike weapon. The budget also accelerates development of the Navy Laser Family of Systems (NLFoS) to provide Navy ships with laser weapons in the protection against near-term threats.
The Marine Corps RDT&E budget supports continued investment in modernization and innovation to support Force Design 2030. This includes the development of Marine Littoral Regiments (MLRs), defensive missile systems, communication systems, and advanced vehicles. Marine Corps RDT&E programs are focused on developing the force with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
The Department’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) will deliver efficient and modernized shipyards by upgrading existing dry docks and building new ones, reimaging the physical layout of the shipyards, and replacing antiquated capital equipment with modern machines. Successful implementation of SIOP will ensure the four shipyards are ready and able to support the class maintenance plan for the Navy’s current and future submarines and aircraft carriers. Naval shipyard infrastructure modernization projects at shipyards supporting submarine and aircraft carrier force structure and maintenance requirements and include Multimission Dry Dock #1 Extension, Phase 1 Increment 4, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME ($544.8 million), Dry Dock 3 Extension & Lock System Replacement Increment 2, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI ($1,318.7 million), Dry Dock Saltwater System for CVN-78 Increment 2, Norfolk, VA ($81.1 million), Shipyard Electrical Backbone, Naval Base Kitsap ($195.0 million), and Planning and Design ($145.0 million).
The Department’s budget request was a collaborative, strategy-driven approach that maximizes the resources available. This request represents the best mix of readiness for today, modernization for tomorrow, and investment in the future – while prioritizing our Sailors, Marines, civilians and families, and strengthening relationships with our allies and partners.