-A new GAO report shows only half of the U.S. Navy’s 32 amphibious ships are in satisfactory condition, with the rest classified as being in poor material condition. This poses a significant challenge for the Marine Corps, which relies on these vessels for rapid response missions.-Many amphibious ships, including assault ships and dock landing ships, suffered from deferred maintenance and repair cancellations, leading to major breakdowns and reduced fleet readiness.-The Navy must maintain a 31-ship amphibious fleet, but with a 20-year maintenance backlog and increasing competition from China’s rapidly growing naval force, creative solutions and extended service life for aging vessels may be necessary.