In an abrupt move, the White House has reportedly stepped in to include an extra Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) to the US Navy’s 2018 budget, one day after the budget was released.
“They pulled that ship out of their asses,” said Rep. Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, in a CNN report.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Sen. John McCain also said.
Navy officials were also taken aback, delivering contradictory statements while justifying their budget request.
Acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley asserted their need for one LCS on Wednesday morning; however, by afternoon, a Navy acquisition official testified at a House panel that the White House’s Office of Management and Budget “endorsed” another LCS, according to CNN’s report.
