The Obama administration’s cuts to the U.S. Navy imperil critical missions

Currently, the Navy only operates 28 of these specialized ships, well short of the required number.  Assuming it finds the money in its budget, the Navy’s long term plans call for a fleet of 31 amphibious ships, still below the bare minimum necessary for the Corps to carry out its missions.  Treading lightly on the administration, the Navy has diplomatically stated that it has “departed from the desired force structure” for the Marines “due to resource constraints.”  The shortage of ships, however, has real world consequences for our men and women in uniform.  For example, if we deploy a Marine brigade with 15 instead of 17 ships, we leave over 38,000 square feet of their combat equipment at home.

Cutting the Navy’s budget so that key warships are decommissioned without replacements, limits the option of the United States to deal with a dangerous world.  The ability to put our Marines ashore to respond to critical contingencies — war, terrorism, evacuation of American citizens, humanitarian or natural disaster relief — is being compromised.  This trend must be reversed immediately.  We must stop plans to decommission any active Tarawa or Wasp class Amphibious Assault Ships now.  The administration’s cuts will have lifelong negative consequences for all Americans and Congress should immediately act to reverse this dangerous trend.

Robert C. O’Brien is the Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of Arent Fox LLP.  He served as a United States Representative to the 60^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.