The finance minister added that the policies were aimed at encouraging businesses to reduce reliance on manpower, and not merely replace foreign workers with locals.

BBC: Singapore budget focuses on foreign workers

The argument could also be made that delaying construction of the new Ford class of carriers might actually increase the long-term cost of carriers, since the next-generation carrier is designed to reduce crewing requirements by hundreds of personnel, and manpower expenses are the biggest driver of life-cycle costs for aircraft carriers.

FORBES: Despite Budget Woes, The Navy Is Unlikely To Cut Carriers