Billion-Dollar Hangover From One Old Carrier

Taxpayers face a billion-dollar bill to dismantle the USS Enterprise, even after years of costly storage and delays.

Story Snapshot

Government watchdogs projected Enterprise disposal could top $1 billion.
A 2026 Navy contract reaward set the dismantlement price at about $418 million.
The Navy says commercial disposal cuts time and cost versus other paths.
The carrier’s eight reactors make this a first-of-its-kind, complex job.

What The Watchdog Found On Cost And Oversight

The Government Accountability Office warned in 2018 that taking apart the ex-USS Enterprise could cost more than $1 billion. The office described ranges up to about $1.55 billion if the Navy used a public shipyard, and roughly $750 million to $1.4 billion if it used a commercial yard. The report said typical budget and reporting methods would not allow enough oversight for a project of this size. The title called for more oversight and flagged regulatory questions.

Local reporting added fuel by noting the Navy had already spent hundreds of millions of dollars related to the ship before the cutters even started. One report in Virginia said at least $863 million had been spent tied to Enterprise actions as cost estimates climbed, highlighting the long tail of upkeep, planning, and compliance tasks. That figure became a touchpoint for public anger. It pressed leaders to show where the money went and what results taxpayers would see.

What The New Contract Does And Why It Matters

In July 2026, the Navy awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for dismantlement, recycling, and disposal to NorthStar Maritime Dismantlement Services. The price was about $418.5 million, with work in Mobile, Alabama, and completion expected by September 2030. The reaward followed a protest that forced a recompetition and a lower final price than earlier estimates. The Navy and its partners framed the work as a landmark for commercial disposal of a nuclear carrier.

The reaward price undercut a simple “overrun” story but did not erase the bigger picture. Government Accountability Office estimates still placed total program costs far above the award amount when including other phases, support, and oversight. The Navy selected the commercial path to cut inactive ship inventory and end stowage costs, while meeting safety and environmental rules. Officials said the chosen alternative would take about five years and cost roughly half of another path under review.

Why Enterprise Is Different From Other Carriers

The Enterprise is the first nuclear-powered carrier to be dismantled, and it carried eight reactors, not two like later ships. That unique design expands the work of cutting, packaging, and shipping low-level radioactive waste to authorized sites. The Government Accountability Office highlighted the unusual scope and the resulting wide cost range. The Navy and Naval Reactors described this project as a first case that will set methods for future nuclear ship disposals.

The environmental review record says the plan is to separate recyclable metal from hazardous and radiological material. Low-level radioactive waste will be packaged and shipped to licensed facilities. Federal reviewers stated the action can be done with essentially no risk to the public from radiation when done under strict rules. Those controls add time and cost but are required by law and common sense. Safety must be strict, but spending must still be transparent.

What This Means For Taxpayers And Readiness

Years of storage and planning turned into a high bill before cutting began. The 2026 award lowered the final dismantlement price, but the total program still reflects a major taxpayer burden. Conservatives want two things at once: airtight safety and honest stewardship of every dollar. Congress can press for full ledgers of storage, towing, oversight, and disposal costs. The Government Accountability Office already warned that normal reporting falls short. Oversight should now match the mission.

Bottom Line: Demand Speed, Safety, And Sunlight

President Trump’s team now owns execution. The path is set: a commercial job with clear rules and an end date. The job must finish on time and on budget, with public reporting that tracks every milestone. This is how we end caretaker costs, clear the inactive fleet, and restore trust. The Enterprise served the nation with pride. Its final chapter should honor that service by protecting taxpayers, guarding health and safety, and proving that government can still do hard things well.