Submarine maintenance delays, ‘idle time’ cost $3.4 billion, GAO says

The GAO reports that maintenance delays for U.S. submarines resulted in 15,000 lost operational days. These delays incurred an estimated $3.4 billion in costs to sustain non-operational boats and crews. While the Navy has successfully reduced delays for operational submarines, the GAO warns that the situation will likely worsen and become more expensive for vessels destined for decommissioning. This idle time represents a significant financial burden on the Navy's overall maintenance and operational budget.