The US Navy is facing renewed scrutiny over its sea-based military capability following a series of technical failures, accidents, extended deployments and shipbuilding delays. On July 24, the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold suffered a generator failure during routine operations in the South China Sea, leaving it without electricity for four days. Food supply, toilets, air conditioning and access to clean water were disrupted, and the Navy is investigating the cause.

Nearly 5,000 sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln have remained at sea for more than 250 days after a deployment that began in November was extended several times. Reports cited food shortages, water problems, damaged pipelines and growing fatigue, though the Navy denied parts of the allegations. A March fire in the laundry area of USS Gerald R. Ford took more than 30 hours to control, injuring two sailors and causing smoke-related illness among others.

USS Harry S. Truman was involved in a collision near Port Said, Egypt, and lost two F/A-18 aircraft in the Red Sea last year. Investigations cited weak communication, limited training and excessive pressure. A GAO report said shipbuilding budgets nearly doubled over two decades without a significant fleet expansion, while China has more than 370 ships compared with fewer than 300 for the United States.