Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said President Donald Trump prevented him from speaking at a Tuesday event announcing a multibillion-dollar investment in submarine manufacturing near Baltimore, creating a public dispute over who should receive credit for the major economic development
project.
The event at Sparrows Point in Baltimore County highlighted Anduril Industries’ plans for a new high-tech shipyard. The project combines a $3.7 billion private investment from Anduril with a $2.9 billion U.S. Navy commitment, bringing the total value to approximately $6.6 billion.
Moore, a Democrat, said his administration had worked for more than a year to help bring the project to Maryland. He told reporters that he was prevented from speaking after Trump decided to attend the announcement. Moore ultimately did not attend the event.
The White House disputes Moore’s characterization of the situation. A spokesperson said the governor had been invited to attend as a guest but was not scheduled to deliver remarks. The administration accused Moore of making the announcement about himself rather than the project.
The new facility, known as Arsenal-2, is planned for the former Bethlehem Steel site at Sparrows Point. Anduril says the shipyard will manufacture components for Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines and is expected to create about 3,100 direct jobs, along with thousands of additional jobs supported indirectly.
The project is part of a broader federal effort to expand the U.S. shipbuilding and defense-industrial base. Anduril expects the new facility to use advanced automation, software and manufacturing technology, with production targeted for the end of the decade.
Despite the disagreement over the event, Moore has expressed support for the investment itself. Maryland officials have described the development as the state’s largest private investment in more than a decade and one of its most significant job-creation projects in years.
The episode highlights the political tensions surrounding a project that otherwise brings together federal and state interests. Trump has emphasized rebuilding American manufacturing and expanding defense production, while Moore has stressed Maryland’s role in securing the investment and its expected economic benefits.
For now, the disagreement over who was permitted to speak remains unresolved, with the White House and Moore’s office offering different accounts. The shipyard project itself is moving forward, with the new facility expected to become part of the nation’s submarine manufacturing supply chain.
