Congress funds capital ships but neglects escorts

Would Congress keep spending enough to match the Royal Navy in capital ships without the stimulus of a European war?

Probably for prestigious ships, but not for enough escorts, leaving a politically sustained yet unbalanced fleet.

Congress would probably preserve visible naval status even without a European-war cash influx. That produces a lopsided fleet rich in cruisers, carriers, and capital ships but short of destroyers and sloops, reinforced by shipyard jobs and donors with an interest in continued construction. Large yards and their political supporters would favor profitable prestige hulls over the numerous escorts needed for balanced operations. The result is a fleet that looks powerful in headline tonnage but lacks the screening and patrol capacity required to employ its capital ships effectively.