The Pentagon is grappling with a $285 billion maintenance backlog, highlighted by ongoing issues aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier. In March, the carrier docked in Greece for repairs after a laundry room fire caused smoke inhalation among more than 200 sailors. The ship had been at sea for 10 months, exceeding its deployment schedule while facing electrical and sewage system failures, according to fortune.com.
Pete Hegseth, former Secretary of War under the Trump administration, warned in November 2025 about the risks posed by the Pentagon’s bureaucratic processes. Speaking to defense executives, he compared the internal challenges to those faced by the Soviet Union and the Chinese Communist Party, emphasizing that the adversary is the Pentagon bureaucracy itself rather than external forces. Harvard Kennedy School lecturer Linda Bilmes described the USS Gerald R. Ford’s problems as symptomatic of a broader failure to maintain U.S. military infrastructure effectively, as reported by fortune.com.
The maintenance backlog underscores systemic issues within the U.S. military’s infrastructure management, affecting readiness and operational capacity. The USS Gerald R. Ford’s extended deployment and delayed repairs exemplify the strain on military assets. This situation reflects long-standing concerns about underfunded and mismanaged maintenance programs, which have drawn scrutiny from policymakers and defense analysts alike. The scale of the backlog is significant compared to other defense expenditures, highlighting the need for structural reforms, according to fortune.com.
The USS Gerald R. Ford’s arrival at Souda Bay for extensive repairs marks a critical point in addressing the maintenance crisis. The Pentagon’s $285 billion backlog remains a key challenge for military readiness, with officials tasked to prioritize and allocate resources to prevent further operational disruptions, as detailed by fortune.com.