Remember the SS United States? Here's where it is now

Driving the news: The plan to sink the historic 990-foot ocean liner off the Gulf Coast and turn it into the world's largest artificial reef is temporarily on hold while Okaloosa County awaits final approval from the Army Corps of Engineers, county spokesperson Nick Tomecek tells Axios.

• The ship has been stripped of potentially harmful materials and pollutants as part of an environmental remediation process to make it safe for marine wildlife.

Catch up quick: Okaloosa County paid $1 million to purchase the ship from its longtime steward, the SS United States Conservancy, following a lengthy court battle with its former landlord, Penn Warehousing, over a disputed rent hike at its South Philly berth.

• A group of New York preservationists made an unsuccessful last-ditch pitch to President Trump to save the ship from being sunk.
• After several delays, the ship finally left Philly in February 2025 after being docked in South Philly for nearly three decades.

Fun fact: The 990-foot-long ship carried four presidents across the Atlantic after setting sail on its maiden voyage in the early 1950s.

What we're watching: Once the Army Corps signs off, Okaloosa County will set a date to sink the liner off Florida's Gulf Coast, Tomecek says.