‘Everything costs what it costs’: Navy, Marine, Coast Guard chiefs call for historic funding
By Riley Ceder
Thursday, Feb 12, 2026
SAN DIEGO — Service chiefs from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard speaking at the WEST Conference in San Diego on Wednesday defended the necessity for continued investment in their respective services while laying out the goals they will set to achieve with present and future infusions of cash.
In the wake of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill, which allotted roughly $150 billion for defense, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric M. Smith said the financial windfall allowed the service the ability to afford the absolute necessities it needed to operate.
It was expensive, yes, but essential, he said.
“Everything costs what it costs,” Smith said. “I don’t want to pay four billion dollars for a ship, neither does my shipmate Daryl Caudle. But that’s what it costs to have pipefitters, steamfitters, welders, electricians build the ship.”
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2026/02/12/everything-costs-what-it-costs-navy-marine-coast-guard-chiefs-call-for-historic-funding/
