Since the late 1980s, the 1,000-bed ships have provided medical care during wars and disasters. Most recently, the USNS Comfort was deployed to Puerto Rico to provide medical care to residents after two hurricanes slammed the U.S. territory.
While the Navy’s proposed 2019 budget is $12.6 billion more than the previous year, Navy leaders said it isn’t enough to meet its long-term goal of creating a 355-ship fleet in 30 years.
The Navy’s proposal to retire one hospital ship drew criticism from lawmakers who argue both ships are needed in mass casualty situations when hospitals ashore are unavailable.
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