President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal includes $105 million for the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Small Shipyard Grant Program, matching the record funding request level proposed for fiscal year 2026, according to a statement from the Small Shipyard Grant Coalition (SSGC).
The coalition said the program provides federal funding to help small and mid-sized shipyards modernize equipment, improve efficiency, and support workforce training. Maintaining the $105 million request level signals continued federal interest in strengthening domestic shipbuilding capacity, particularly among smaller yards that support repair, maintenance, and newbuild activity across the U.S. maritime sector.
The coalition also highlighted a new initiative included in the proposal called the Commercial Shipbuilding Infrastructure Development Program, which carries a recommended funding level of $250 million. Additional details on the structure and eligibility requirements of the program are expected following the budget release.
The administration’s proposal now moves to Congress, where appropriators will determine final funding levels. As noted by the coalition, congressional support in both chambers will ultimately determine whether the programs are funded at the levels proposed.
On Capitol Hill, Sens. Bill Cassidy, R.-La., and Tammy Baldwin, D.-Wis., are leading a bipartisan effort to secure support for the Small Shipyard Grant Program at the requested $105 million level, according to the SSGC. The coalition is urging stakeholders to engage with lawmakers as part of that effort, noting that similar support is being sought in the House of Representatives.
Industry outreach is ramping up ahead of key appropriations decisions, with the coalition emphasizing the role federal grants play in maintaining competitiveness and capacity within the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
