WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy and Rep. Clay Higgins, all Republicans from Louisiana, called on the Department of War to include Louisiana shipyards in future shipbuilding, repair, modernization, and sustainment contracts.
In a letter to War Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers said small and mid-sized shipyards in South Louisiana are essential to restoring the nation’s shipbuilding capacity and strengthening its defense industrial base.
“South Louisiana’s shipbuilding workforce is deep, experienced, and generational—comprised of welders, fitters, naval architects, engineers, electricians, machinists, and other skilled tradesmen,” the members wrote. “Investing in stable, long-term contract opportunities helps grow this workforce, preserves productive careers, and ensures capacity to deliver for warfighters today and in the decades to come.”
The letter urged the department to diversify shipbuilding work beyond the nation’s largest prime shipyards, citing repeated delivery delays and cost overruns documented by the Government Accountability Office. The lawmakers said broadening participation to include smaller and mid-sized facilities would relieve pressure on major contractors and improve schedule reliability.
They emphasized that Louisiana’s shipyards already operate with a “commercial-first” mindset, competing in fast-moving markets where efficiency, innovation, and cost control are critical. That approach, they said, aligns with the department’s efforts to modernize procurement and expand the defense industrial base.
The lawmakers also argued that supporting these shipyards would sustain and grow the state’s skilled maritime workforce while enhancing national security and supply chain resilience.
“Restoring American shipbuilding capacity will require more than restoring production levels at a handful of yards—it requires rebuilding depth, variability, and resilience across the entire industrial ecosystem,” the members wrote.
The letter concluded by encouraging continued collaboration with the Department of War to ensure the full U.S. shipbuilding base is positioned to meet defense needs.