The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) warns that maintenance and repair backlogs could leave more than a dozen US Navy attack submarines idle for extended periods. The report says up to 15 submarines may wait more than 14,000 days for available shipyard capacity, preventing timely work and driving costs upward.
GAO estimates the resulting cost impact will exceed $3 billion. The issue centers on scheduling and availability of shipyard resources needed for submarine maintenance, which affects how long vessels remain out of operational status. The sources describe the same core finding and figures—submarines delayed for years, waiting for yard space, and large associated financial costs—without presenting conflicting interpretations of the GAO’s conclusions.
