The Trump administration is earmarking nearly $14 million to help reinvigorate the nation’s shipbuilding industry by supporting training programs to develop the next generation of workers, officials said this week.
The Labor Department on Thursday awarded $8 million to Delaware County Community College and $5.8 million to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to provide cutting-edge training programs for future shipbuilders.
“Restoring America’s maritime dominance can’t be accomplished without skilled American workers,” Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement. “In line with President Trump’s executive orders, these projects will help train our next generation of shipbuilders and ensure the skills critical to revitalizing our shipbuilding industry are developed here at home.”
Analysts say the U.S. shipbuilding industry declined due to a combination of factors, including the end of government subsidies in the 1980s that allowed heavily subsidized foreign competitors to offer cheaper ships. The downturn led to a loss of skilled workers and infrastructure, leaving U.S. companies unable to compete for commercial shipbuilding contracts.
Recent studies have shown that the U.S. builds less than 1% of the world’s supply of commercial ships while China produces at least half.
Restoring U.S. dominance in the shipbuilding industry has been a major goal of the White House. The Labor Department stated that it wants to create 1 million registered apprenticeships, aligning with President Trump’s promise to revive American manufacturing.
“The projects will develop a specialized, internationally recognized curriculum on shipbuilding trades to expand apprenticeship opportunities in the United States, working directly with U.S. shipyards and supporting innovation in areas such as modular and icebreaker technology,” Labor Department officials said.
Delaware County Community College is a federally recognized Maritime Center of Excellence with a strong record in workforce development and maintaining partnerships with industry leaders.
The Massachusetts Maritime Academy has been preparing cadets for service in the shipping, defense and energy industries since 1891, Labor Department officials said.
The U.S. is also enhancing its partnership with allies on maritime issues in the polar regions. The Trump administration recently issued a joint statement of intent with Canada and Finland to continue the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort Pact to strengthen Arctic security and maritime capabilities.
