For Everett’s civic watchers — residents who follow city hall, attend council meetings, and pay attention to the economic forces shaping Snohomish County — the Navy’s cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program deserves more attention than it’s received locally.
The frigate cancellation isn’t just a defense acquisition story. It’s a direct hit to Everett’s long-term economic planning assumptions, its relationship with the federal government, and its strategic argument in any future Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.
What Was Planned — and What’s Gone
In 2021, the Navy formally designated Naval Station Everett as the future homeport for 12 Constellation-class guided-missile frigates. A 2024 Navy environmental impact study was conducted — and cleared — for homeporting 12 frigates at Everett, projecting a net addition of 2,900 sailors and civilian personnel to Snohomish County.
That 2,900-person expansion represented tens of millions of dollars in annual payroll entering the Snohomish County economy, increased demand for housing and services, and a strategic argument for continued federal investment in NAVSTA Everett infrastructure.
Navy Secretary Phelan’s November 2025 cancellation of the program removes all of it from the planning horizon — replaced by uncertainty about whether even the two remaining ships will homeport here.
The BRAC Question
BRAC — Base Realignment and Closure — is the periodic federal process by which the Department of Defense evaluates military installations for consolidation or closure. The last major BRAC round was 2005; Congress must authorize any new round.
NAVSTA Everett has been through this before. In 2005, the base came within a recommendation of being placed on the closure list. Local leaders, Rep. Larsen, and state officials mounted a significant advocacy campaign — and the base survived. The argument that carried the day: NAVSTA Everett’s geographic location (direct Pacific access, deep-water port) is irreplaceable and its infrastructure is modern.
The frigate cancellation weakens that argument by removing the planned growth that would have reinforced Everett’s strategic importance. Ray Stephanson, Economic Alliance Snohomish County president, has flagged this risk explicitly. A base that was supposed to grow to 12 new frigates and 2,900 new personnel is a different BRAC calculus than a base that maintains its current footprint without a clear growth mandate.
Rep. Larsen’s Strategy
Rep. Larsen, who represents Washington’s 2nd Congressional District and has been NAVSTA Everett’s primary congressional champion for over two decades, has been methodical in his response to the cancellation. He’s not fighting the cancellation itself — that fight is over. Instead, he’s positioning Everett for the replacement program.
Larsen has stated publicly that Everett’s geographic advantage — “one of the closest locations to the Pacific Ocean” — makes it the logical homeport for whatever ship class the Navy deploys to replace the Constellation. The replacement concept (Coast Guard Legend-class cutter derivative, targeting 2028 delivery) hasn’t entered formal procurement, but Larsen’s early public positioning suggests he’s laying groundwork for the next homeporting fight.
Local Budget and Tax Base Implications
The federal government doesn’t pay property taxes, but military installations drive significant local economic activity that does generate tax revenue. The projected 2,900-person expansion would have increased sales tax receipts, housing market activity, business revenues, and utility revenues across Snohomish County. That fiscal tailwind is now removed from projections.
Everett’s city budget relies heavily on sales tax, B&O tax, and utility revenue. The city has been investing in downtown redevelopment, the waterfront, and the proposed Outdoor Event Center (400,000 annual visitors projected) — these projects are driven by the broader Everett growth story, not military expansion specifically. But the removal of the military expansion scenario creates a more conservative growth trajectory for the north end of the county.
Frequently Asked Questions — For Civic Watchers
Could NAVSTA Everett be closed in a future BRAC?
Any base can be evaluated in a BRAC process if Congress authorizes one. The 2005 round brought Everett close to a closure recommendation — the base survived through geographic and strategic arguments. The Constellation cancellation weakens the expansion case but doesn’t change Everett’s core strategic geography. No BRAC has been authorized since 2005; Congress has resisted multiple Administration requests for new BRAC rounds.
How much does NAVSTA Everett contribute to Snohomish County’s economy?
NAVSTA Everett’s annual economic impact to Snohomish County has been estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, counting direct payroll, contractor spending, and multiplier effects from military family spending in the local economy. The base supports approximately 10,000 military and civilian personnel in the region. The projected Constellation expansion would have added tens of millions annually above that baseline.
Who advocates for Naval Station Everett in Washington D.C.?
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA-2) is NAVSTA Everett’s primary congressional advocate. Sen. Maria Cantwell and Sen. Patty Murray have both supported the base in appropriations. Locally, the Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) and Snohomish County government coordinate advocacy through the county’s federal affairs program.
What does the Navy’s replacement frigate program mean for Everett?
The Navy has announced a replacement concept based on the Coast Guard Legend-class cutter design, targeting 2028 delivery. No homeporting decisions have been made. Rep. Larsen has publicly positioned Everett as the logical homeport given its Pacific access and infrastructure. Whether that advocacy succeeds depends on Pentagon force structure decisions not yet made.
Related Exploring Everett coverage: Full story: Navy Cancels Constellation Frigate Program | Military Families at NAVSTA Everett: What Changes
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