Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones’ pitch to maximize federal investment into the city’s shipyards leans on investments outside the front gate.

Jones was one of roughly 200 mayors in Washington on Thursday who met with a range of Trump administration officials. He spoke with officials including Office of Management and Budget Shipbuilding Office Chief Jerry Hendrix and Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao, discussing ways that Newport News could play a role in achieving federal policy goals such as increasing shipbuilding production.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Newport News in January to kick off his nationwide shipyard tour, and discussed a “Golden Fleet” of ships to be designed by Huntington Ingalls Industries. Jones said his conversations did not include whether those ships would be built in Newport News, but said officials told him they are looking to invest in localities that understand the value of military and commercial ships.

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“The federal government is excited to partner with a city and with a mayor with military experience and veteran background, as well as a city that can appreciate what the military can do,” said Jones, a Marine veteran. “This is important to me from a national sense, but also what this could do for our local economy.”

Jones said as global competitors such as China and Russia grow in international power, there is an increased need for aircraft carriers, as well as Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines. And Newport News is one of very few places that has the capabilities to build them.

“With this inflection point in our country’s history, this is the perfect time for the city of Newport News to capitalize this investment,” Jones said.

That means any federal cash infusion would likely fund projects that would attract people to the industry, like the more than $400 million sailor housing project the Navy funded in August that is expected to break ground in the coming months, according to Jones.

Neither side formalized any agreements during the visit, Jones said, but follow up conversations are scheduled for February and March on how to improve quality of life for sailors and shipyard workers. Jones said shipyard workers coming from different states sometimes sleep in their cars.

“We have to do better when it comes to opening the levers to allow for more housing opportunities in Newport News,” Jones said.

The only thing Jones said he promised in return for any potential federal investment is a commitment to build 21,000 new housing units as soon as possible, something the federal money would help accelerate. The Navy has said it was looking to increase housing capacity for sailors by 8,000 beds across Hampton Roads.

According to Jones, one of his most productive conversations was with Cao, who agreed there’s been a “missing middle” post-COVID nationwide that’s left the shipbuilding industry filled with older workers ready to age out and younger workers new to the job.

Shipbuilding programs across the country have been over budget and behind schedule for years. Two key challenges in getting back on track are a lack of physical space at shipbuilding facilities and lack of workers, according to a Government Accountability Office report.

With more housing and quality of life projects with the Navy’s help, along with partnerships from Virginia Peninsula Community College and the city’s trade center, Jones said Newport News could become a national hub for workforce development that could foster the future of shipbuilders.

“I believe this is going to transform the entire city of Newport News. But more importantly, it’s going to put us on the map in terms of shipbuilding and the highest quality of life for these sailors and shipbuilders,” Jones said.

Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com

https://www.dailypress.com/2026/01/31/newport-news-federal-shipbuilding/