Navy attack subs face 14,000 idle days, $3.1 billion cost by 2030

September 2, 2026 at 01:58 AM2 min

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U.S. Navy attack submarines face more than 14,000 days of inactive idle time and $3.1 billion in operating costs from fiscal 2026 through 2030, the Government Accountability Office reported Aug. 27. The USS Pasadena entered inactive idle status Jan. 1, 2025, and is not expected to begin decommissioning at Norfolk Naval Shipyard until Nov. 15, 2028, due to shipyard capacity constraints. The Navy has not fully evaluated alternative decommissioning options, even as 15 attack submarines are projected to enter inactive idle status over the next five years.

Key Facts

The USS Pasadena entered inactive idle status on Jan. 1, 2025, and is not expected to be inducted into Norfolk Naval Shipyard for decommissioning until Nov. 15, 2028 — a delay of 1,414 days.
The GAO projects 15 attack submarines will enter inactive idle time from fiscal 2026 through fiscal 2030, totaling more than 14,000 days and $3.1 billion in operating and support costs.
The Navy spent about $3.3 billion on idle Los Angeles-class boats and $835 million on idle Virginia-class boats over the past decade, averaging roughly $230,000 per day pierside.
The Navy decided to decommission USS Boise, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, despite spending $1.6 billion on repairs.
The GAO recommended the Navy find alternative decommissioning options, including defueling outside drydocks and reducing crewing for submarines awaiting inactivation.

Shipyard Capacity Constraints

The Government Accountability Office attributed the delays primarily to overloaded shipyards in an Aug. 27 report. The USS Pasadena entered inactive idle status on Jan. 1, 2025, and is not expected to be inducted into Norfolk Naval Shipyard for decommissioning until Nov. 15, 2028 — a delay of 1,414 days. During this period, the attack submarine is unable to operate because its dive certification has expired, yet it remains fully crewed with sailors. The Navy is using the inactive submarine to train crews, but the nearly four-year delay is costing about $300 million in operating and support costs.

Projected Inactive Idle Costs

Without mitigation, 15 attack submarines will enter inactive idle time from fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2030, according to the GAO. The Navy could incur more than 14,000 days of inactive idle time and $3.1 billion in costs to operate and support these inactive submarines. Over the past decade, the Navy spent about $3.3 billion on idle Los Angeles-class boats and about $835 million on idle Virginia-class boats. That spending amounts to roughly $230,000 for every day a submarine sits pierside waiting to be worked on.

GAO Recommendations

The GAO submitted two recommendations to the Navy: find alternative options for decommissioning attack submarines, including defueling outside of drydocks and reducing crewing for those waiting to be taken out of service. The agency also recommended the Navy create and execute a detailed plan that reduces inactive idle time. The GAO sent two additional recommendations that the Department of Defense deemed sensitive. The Navy, on behalf of DOD, verbally concurred with the recommendations but did not provide written comments.