Maritime Action Plan Released: What Applicants Need to Know

The Trump Administration has unveiled the Maritime Action Plan intended to revive the maritime industry and bolster national security efforts. The Maritime Action Plan (MAP) has been developed in coordination with the Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Secretary of War, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Trade Representative. The plan focuses on expanding commercial shipbuilding capacity, building a resilient workforce, and strengthening alliances. This proposal follows President Trump’s Executive Order “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance,” signed on April 9, 2025. This outline also calls for policies that modernize the government's procurement process and streamline regulations. This plan provides insight into what to expect from the Departments in the future and how applicants can position their projects to align with these priorities.  

The MAP outlines four pillars to improve and revitalize the maritime industry.  

• Pillar 1: Rebuild Shipbuilding Capacity and Capabilities - To increase domestic shipbuilding capacity, incentivize investment in U.S. shipyards, and establish a maritime prosperity zone. 

• Pillar 2: Reform Workforce Education and Training - To expand mariner training and education and enhance training capabilities.  

• Pillar 3: Protect the Maritime Industrial Base - To improve the Maritime Industrial Base, the action plan calls for improving government procurement efficiency.

• Pillar 4: National Security, Economic Security, and Industrial Resilience - To strengthen security and resilience of the maritime industrial base and increase the development of the autonomous maritime technology industry. 

Important Takeaways for Grant Seekers

Priority Funding Opportunities 

The MAP lays out notable funding opportunities that will be prioritized by the Trump Administration to improve and expand financial support for shipyards and critical suppliers. Notable authorities include: 

• Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III authorities 

• Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program authorities 

• Small Business Investment Company Critical Technology Initiative 

• Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) Financial Credit Program 

• Fisheries Finance Program (FFP) financing 

• Capital Construction Fund (CCF) mechanisms 

• Construction Reserve Fund (CRF) tax deferral benefits 

• Title XI Federal Ship Financing Program (Title XI) loan guarantees 

• Small Shipyard Grants 

• Department of War (DOW) ManTech Program 

• Tax‑oriented tools 

Standardizing Applications and Expanding Eligibility  

The MAP recommends standardizing grant applications and expanding eligibility for existing programs. This plan emphasizes the need to simplify and standardize applications, eligibility, and compliance requirements across all programs. Additionally, it calls for expanding funding and eligibility for the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). These changes will make the PIDP program more competitive and enable quicker turnarounds for awards through a standardized application.  

The MAP proposal endorses a new grant program to fund projects that enhance the capacity and efficiency of U.S. shipyards of all sizes, create high-paying jobs, advance technology innovation in shipbuilding, and reduce reliance on foreign shipyards.  

Priority Shifts Within Existing Grant Programs 

Within flexible competitive grant programs, the Maritime Action Plan will propose new priorities for the following grant programs to focus on shipbuilding-related training:  

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Registered Apprenticeships, Pell. Grants and Workforce Pell Grants under the Higher Education Act of 1965, Carl D. Perkins Career and 

• Technical Education Act of 2006, Accelerated Training 

• Promote DOL’s Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grant program 

Additionally, the plan requires or expands already existing workforce investments in shipbuilding contracts and DOW grants. Therefore, it is important to continue to ensure projects under these programs align with the shipbuilding priority and to emphasize workforce investments within project applications.  

Increasing Investment in Small Shipyard Grant Program

The Maritime Action Plan outlines ways to increase investments in the Small Shipyard Grant Program. These additional grants will be targeted at small shipyards and will include funding for workforce training initiatives. Further, this plan expands eligibility for the Small Shipyard Grant to include medium and large yards to accelerate facility upgrades. While this expanded eligibility will make the Small Shipyard Grant more competitive, the plan calls for additional funding opportunities for small shipyards as well.  

Enact a Make America Skilled Again Grant Program 

The Make America Skilled Again Grant Program is a 2026 budget item for the Department of Labor (DOL) that overhauls federal workforce development into a single block grant for states. This budget item emphasizes an apprenticeship focus. The Maritime Action Plan lays out potential avenues for the Make America Skilled Again program, such as shipbuilding apprenticeships. The Maritime Action Plan will bring federal departments together and help to further President Trump’s goal of increasing apprenticeship opportunities.  

Removing Regulatory Barriers 

This maritime plan proposes reduced regulatory barriers through the following avenues: 

• Reducing unnecessary reporting requirements 

• Prioritizing permit applications for port infrastructure projects in navigable waters 

• Harmonizing public guidance to ensure consistent interpretation of environmental statutes 

• Improving NEPA review efficiency through new procedures by maritime regulatory agencies 

This deregulation will result in quicker review times, decreased reporting requirements, and more competitive application processes.  

Maritime Prosperity Zones 

The Maritime Action Plan outlines designated areas to rejuvenate the shipbuilding industry. These Maritime Prosperity Zones are geographically diverse areas, including inland river ports and the Great Lakes that will receive tax incentives and regulatory relief to attract workforce investment. By promoting shipbuilding in these regions, the Maritime Action Plan hopes to improve shipbuilding competitiveness. 

Conclusion 

While some aspects of the Maritime Action Plan can be enacted immediately, like shifted priorities on grant programs, expanded eligibility, and new funding opportunities, some proposals require congressional approval. Suggestions from the Maritime Action Plan that focus on removing regulatory barriers and standardizing applications will require action from Congress before these items are enacted. Continue to follow any federal changes and subscribe to Access Granted for more information.