In today’s geopolitical environment, we should be at double what we are now, although not on carriers or even cruisers/destroyers. Littoral craft, minesweepers, fast attack subs, amphibs, LCACs, riverine patrol craft and supply vessels are what we need to strengthen numbers in the most. Oh, we really need many more anti-submarine patrol aircraft and helos for the cruisers and destroyers.
Of course, with your great knowledge, you already knew all of that......
As long as we have international trade with shipping between ports-o-call, there is a need for the US Navy, not to mention strategic missions requiring aviation and submariner prepositioning. Our Navy needs to always be in the 500-600 ship range. Anything less reflects inadequate planning and fails to defend our interests overseas from enemies foreign and domestic.