GAO urges Navy to cut costly submarine decommissioning delays

On July 16, 2026, the Government Accountability Office issued two recommendations to the Department of the Navy. The first directs the Chief of Naval Operations to have Naval Sea Systems Command fully evaluate alternative options for decommissioning attack submarines more efficiently. The second requires the development and implementation of an inactivation plan that reduces inactive idle time for crews and submarines. The Navy has verbally concurred with the recommendations but has not submitted written comments.

GAO's analysis of maintenance data for fiscal years 2016-2025 found that maintenance delays and idle time have cost the Navy more than 15,000 operational days and an estimated $3.4 billion in expenses to sustain crews and submarines that provided no operational capability. Inactive idle time, which occurs when submarines awaiting decommissioning cannot enter a dry dock, is projected to rise. GAO estimates that 15 attack submarines will enter inactive idle time from fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2030, generating more than 14,000 days of idle time and more than $3.1 billion in operating and support costs.

The first recommendation urges the Navy to consider options such as defueling outside dry docks and reducing crewing for submarines awaiting decommissioning. The second calls for a detailed plan that outlines objectives, steps, and timeframes for monitoring and mitigating risk, with the goal of cutting the projected idle time and associated costs.

Both recommendations remain open. GAO notes it will update the status when the Navy provides written confirmation of actions taken. The public report is a redacted version of a classified GAO assessment, with operational availability data omitted at the Department of Defense's request.

If the Navy implements the recommended evaluations and inactivation plan, it could reduce the backlog that threatens readiness and save billions of dollars, preserving the strategic advantage provided by its 44 attack submarines as of fiscal year 2025.