
The Senate fiscal year 2021 defense spending bill looks to fence off spending on a second Constellation-class (FFG-61) frigate until after Congress gets an updated cost assessment. The bill provides $1.05 billion for the Navy to procure the second new frigate, but an explanatory statement released with the Senate Appropriations Committee’s draft bill directs no funds for construction of the second ship may be obligated until the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) “has provided to the congressional…