U.S. Navy spent $3.4 billion on idled submarines, GAO reports

September 4, 2026 at 11:25 PM1 min

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The U.S. Navy has spent $3.4 billion over the past decade on attack submarines awaiting maintenance, according to a Government Accountability Office report. The backlog could add another $3.1 billion for submarines waiting to be decommissioned. The idle submarines have cost over 15,000 operational days.

Key Facts

The U.S. Navy spent $3.4 billion over the last decade on attack submarines waiting for maintenance.
Navy shipyards may need several more years to reach submarines marked for decommissioning, adding up to $3.1 billion.
The idle submarines have lost over 15,000 operational days.
The USS Pasadena entered inactive idle status in January 2025 and is scheduled for decommissioning in November 2028.
The Navy is experimenting with reduced crews on inactive boats to cut costs.

Maintenance Backlog

The Government Accountability Office found that U.S. Navy attack submarines have spent years waiting for maintenance, costing $3.4 billion over the past decade. Navy shipyards are so backlogged that submarines marked for decommissioning may wait several more years, adding up to $3.1 billion. The total cost of idle submarines reaches $6.5 billion. The idle submarines have lost over 15,000 operational days, meaning they cannot conduct operations while awaiting repairs.

Decommissioning Delays

Inactive idle submarines awaiting decommissioning must remain fully crewed because their nuclear reactors require expert maintenance. These submarines can only be defueled at dry dock, and the backlog for dry dock slots causes long waits. The USS Pasadena, a Los Angeles-class submarine, went on inactive idle status in January 2025 but is not scheduled for decommissioning until November 2028. The Navy is using the USS Pasadena as a training vessel for fresh recruits, with an estimated cost of $300 million for the entire period. The Navy is experimenting with keeping only reduced crews on inactive boats to reduce costs.