GAO says the Coast Guard’s biggest shipbuilding program faces major design and cost risks
GAO says the Coast Guard’s biggest shipbuilding program faces major design and cost risks  
Podcast: The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Published On: Wed Dec 17 2025
Description: The Coast Guard urgently needs 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters to replace aging ships, but GAO found serious challenges, from unstable designs to unclear cost baselines that put the $17 billion program at risk. Shelby Oakley, Director of Contracting and National Security Acquisitions at GAO, is here to break down the risks and what needs to change before Stage 3 ship construction begins.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.