[The U.S. Once Considered Linking Hormuz Strait Escort Operations to Government Insurance] According to a report by Golden Finance on March 19, citing sources from the Financial Times, the Trump administration once explored a plan requiring ships escorted by the U.S. Navy through the Hormuz Strait to purchase insurance provided by the U.S. government. The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Trump administration had studied a plan to mandate ships escorted by the U.S. Navy through the Hormuz Strait to buy insurance offered by the U.S. government. The government considered requiring ships applying for naval escort to forgo purchasing commercial insurance on the private market and instead obtain coverage through a program jointly operated by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and private insurer Chubb. According to individuals directly involved with the insurance market connected to the Development Finance Corporation, these ships would be required to purchase government insurance covering hull, machinery, and cargo. It remains unclear whether the Trump administration would have advanced the mandatory insurance clause in the plan. The U.S. Department of Defense and Central Command both declined to comment on whether the U.S. Navy would only provide escort services to ships insured through DFC.