Trump signs memo permitting foreign shipbuilders to build up to 2 U.S. ships in their shipyards

Why This Matters

This move represents a departure from the administration's 'America First' manufacturing and 'Buy American' directives, particularly within the sensitive defense industrial base. It suggests potential underlying issues such as U.S. shipyard capacity constraints or cost considerations, opening the door for foreign competition in a sector typically protected for national security reasons.