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Read. Follow. Verify.Oversight Review of the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship Program
Record date · January 1, 2017
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What This Bill Does
This document is a transcript of a 2016 House Armed Services Subcommittee hearing regarding the status, challenges, and future of the U.S. Navy's program. The committee reviewed lessons learned from past issues, including cost and schedule growth caused by immature technology and unstable design requirements.
The hearing examines the effectiveness and future direction of a major naval shipbuilding program intended to replace aging and frigates, directly impacting federal defense spending and national maritime capabilities.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
U.S. Navy
The Navy is responsible for the acquisition, development, and operation of the Littoral Combat Ship fleet.
Department of Defense
The DOD oversees the acquisition programs and testing protocols for naval assets.
Taxpayers
Taxpayers fund the procurement and maintenance of naval vessels through federal appropriations.
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on December 8, 2016, by the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- The LCS program was intended to replace mine countermeasure ships, patrol craft, and Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates.
- Chairwoman Hartzler identified that the program suffered from cost and schedule growth due to the introduction of immature technologies.
- The committee noted that awarding contracts without a stable design and using prescriptive government specifications contributed to program inefficiencies.
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- The hearing served as the final oversight event for the 114th Congress.
- The subcommittee authorized non-subcommittee members of the full Armed Services Committee to participate in the hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program?
Why did the LCS program face cost and schedule issues?
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News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift in Acquisition Strategy
The hearing highlights a clear institutional lesson learned: the failure of 'skipping a generation' of technology development in favor of rapid acquisition.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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