Sub Base Pier Funding May Be Used For Trump's Border Wall: Report

GROTON, CT — The $72.3 million earmarked for the construction of a new pier at Naval Submarine Base New London, required for the Virginia-class submarines that are being built by Electric Boat, may be in jeopardy of being diverted for the construction of President Donald Trump’s border wall, the Hartford Business Journal reported.

Read the full Patch report about the $22.2 billion contract for the Block V Virginia Class submarines here.

In December of 2019, the U.S. Navy awarded its largest-ever shipbuilding contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat for construction of nine Virginia-class attack submarines.

The contract for the Block V Virginias, worth $22.2 billion, could grow by another $2 billion if the Navy exercises an option for a 10th boat. The contract is for two fewer boats than the 11 proposed by the fleet in this year's budget submission. At the time, Electric Boat President Kevin Graney said the contract means stability for the shipyard.

The Hartford Business Journal reported that the funding for the new pier is "among $10.5 billion Congress appropriated for military construction at U.S. bases ..." But, given lawmakers blessed just $1.4 billion for this border wall, "Trump is preparing to divert $7.2 billion in Pentagon funding for construction of the barrier this year." And the pier job may be one of those projects to be hit.

Read the full story here.