The USS Vicksburg, a 567-foot guided-missile cruiser, has been inactive in a Virginia shipyard for over six years, incurring millions in repair costs.
The Navy is attempting to retire 11 vessels, including the Vicksburg, but faces opposition from Congress.
A report in 2023 revealed that Navy spending on ship repairs has increased significantly, with maintenance costs rising by 24% from 2011 to 2020.
Delayed ship upkeep during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars contributed to rising maintenance costs.
A lack of spare parts and unfilled jobs also hinders shipyard operations.
Congress receives an annual list of vessels the Navy wishes to retire, but opposition often arises due to job preservation and a desire to maintain a large fleet to deter China.
The Navy's target of 355 vessels has not been met since 2003, with the fleet ranging from 270 to 300 battleforce vessels.
Most vessels on the retirement list, including the USS Vicksburg, are over 30 years old, while two are seven years old, sparking criticism of spending on the Littoral Combat class.