We don't have the production capabilities we did in WW2. Uncle done shut down a very sizable portion. Newport News Ship Building/Dry dock is a good yard though actually the best we have. These were the boats that should have never been built to start with. Complicating this is Ship alts of that magnitude to an already troubled designed is begging for more trouble but it was Uncle who asked for the trouble to start with.
I'd say the yards weren't exactly jumping for joy to do the work but rather was a result of some political arm twisting related to other contracts. The boats anyway they went would be a liability to them because if the conditions were as CWO stated you can't fix junk especially a weakened hull design by adding more stress to it. Fixing it period is highly questionable. Everything gets thrown out of kilter.
The work request would have came from D.O.T either via a general fund or designated funds from congress. Navy wise the Pentagon approves and disapproves ship alts some requiring congressional approval funding.
There's been a lot of cost cutting over the past 15 or so years as far as ships go. Sadly it usually results in many things needed replaced or repaired given band-aid repairs. As CWO says it's cheap. It's happened to the Coast Guard and the Navy. A Captain of a ship can request certain shipyard work be done during routine down time. The request are generally the consensus from the lower ranking NCO's up through Captains and squadron commanders. Then it goes to the Fleet Commander {Navy}, and the Pentagon where the yes or no is given.
You'll never hear of these request being turned down as Joe Citizen but if the work is turned down and the ship has major failures because of it then it is the ships Captain who pays with a ended career. More band-aids are passed out and life goes on so does the ship if it still floats.
Murphy's Law applies. At the worse possible times what can go wrong will go wrong. This example with the Coast Guard and Two carriers in 2001-2002 with the Navy. In the mean time congress both parties will strut like roosters crowing about the money saved. Well a huge bill is fixing to come due and some tired ships more worn than what they noramlly should be are fixing to start showing the cause and effect. Warnings were sounded in the late 90's and in 2000. Such thing as this went unanswered.
The problem is this isn't 1970's defense manufacturing capable USA anymore and the fixes aren't gonna be quick at this point. Wisest move for D.O.T. and congress would still be to bite the bullet and built it right to start with. Let NNSBDD design it and build it keel up then you will see a vast improvement.
BTW two years from now likely 5 years from now we can come right back here and the plans won't be on the drafting table nor a new keel laid. But there will be a decrease in aviable cutter and ships. Both houses haven't exactally been in a national defense upsizing or upgrading mood in over a decade now. It's not gonna get better soon either.