Domestic origin in the US frigate follow-up

Didn't the US Navy still need the frigates?

Yes is the response; it then distinguishes that need from the political presentation of the design chosen to fill it.

Alex agrees with the premise that the US Navy needs frigates. He then discusses domestic origin as part of how a replacement could be presented to Congress, using a modified National Security Cutter as his hypothetical example. He contrasts that example with Constellation's association with FREMM despite extensive changes. This is an attributed account of the program's political framing, not evidence that Congress had selected the cutter alternative.