Some details about the issue were released on September 27, including potential risks to US sailors serving on the affected ships, according to the Navy Times .

In a statement late on September 27, HII, the company that owns the Newport News Shipyard in Virginia, said it had discovered "through internal reporting that some welders had intentionally circumvented certain welding procedures."

“Based on our initial investigation, there was no indication of malicious intent. Upon discovery, we took action to communicate with our customers and regulators, investigate, identify the root cause, resolve the issue, and take immediate corrective actions as we implement longer-term solutions,” HII stressed.

HII's statement does not include further information on what remedial actions or long-term solutions were implemented.

In a joint statement on September 27, the Republican and Democratic lawmakers who head the US House Armed Services Committee called the reports of faulty welds "deeply troubling."

"The Department of Defense must immediately provide our committee with answers and a plan for how it will protect US Navy ships from tampering," House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, a Republican, and committee member Adam Smith, a Democrat, said in a joint statement.

The ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee's Sea Power and Projection Forces Subcommittee said members "have been in close contact with Navy leadership to determine the scope and severity of the weld quality issues."

“Whenever there is a welding defect on a Navy ship or submarine, the safety of the crew serving on the ship is jeopardized and the readiness of these ships is hampered. Navy leadership must promptly release its investigation in the coming weeks,” said Joe Courtney, ranking member of the subcommittee.

The US Navy said on September 27 that it was "aware of the issue and is conducting a thorough assessment to determine the scope".