Baldwin Denounces Trump Admin Plan to Cut Frigate Program, Undermine National Security and Jeopardize Good Wisconsin Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) denounced the Trump administration’s plan to significantly cut back the production of the U.S. Navy’s Constellation-class frigate warships that are produced in Marinette, Green Bay, and Sturgeon Bay, WI. Constellation-class frigates, which are produced by Fincantieri Marinette Marine and support thousands of good-paying jobs, fill a unique gap in the Navy’s fleet and play a key role in competing with China.

“I take great pride in representing Wisconsin’s shipbuilding industry in Washington because our workers have helped keep America safe for generations,” said Senator Baldwin. “And today’s news is a blow to that legacy, a blow to our national security, and a blow to our Made in Wisconsin economy. The frigate program is held up by the thousands of skilled Wisconsin workers, and the administration’s decision pulls the rug out from under them and puts their livelihoods at risk. I am deeply disappointed in the Trump administration letting China get the upper hand on us and turning their backs on this key program and the Wisconsin workers who make it possible. The Secretary of the Navy made promises to send other shipbuilding work to Wisconsin to stabilize the workforce, but promises aren’t good enough. I call on the administration to immediately share its shipbuilding action plan for supporting Wisconsin workers.”

Baldwin was an early and strong advocate for Constellation-class frigates being built in Wisconsin. In 2020, Fincantieri Marinette Marine won the contract. Since then, Senator Baldwin has advocated in both annual National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) and government funding bills to ensure the program gets the funding it needs to sustain the supplier base and build the warships. In the 2021 NDAA, Baldwin helped secure more than $1 billion for an additional Constellation-class frigate, to be built in Marinette, Wisconsin, as well as $69.1 million in additional advanced procurement funding for critical systems and components for the frigate. Since 2023, Senator Baldwin has also successfully fought to include $200 million in Department of Defense funding bills to support the frigate program and the Wisconsin workforce. There has been strong bipartisan consensus in Congress advocating for the Navy to significantly expand the size of the fleet, including by building additional frigates. In June, Baldwin emphasized the importance of the program to U.S. national security and Wisconsin to the Secretary of the Navy in an Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing.

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