In the end, what really doomed the "Virginia" nuclear-powered cruisers was a lack of resources, as the Navy and other branches of the U.S. military were downsizing after the Cold War. The ships of the class were coming due for their first nuclear refuelings, mid-life overhauls, and NTU refittings, which were all budgeted projects, together costing about half the price of a new ship. Further, they required relatively large crews, straining the operating budget. The 1996 Navy Visibility and Management of Operating and Support Costs (VAMOSC) study determined the annual operating cost of a "Virginia"-class cruiser at $40 million, compared to $28 million for a "Ticonderoga"-class cruiser, or $20 million for an , the latter two classes designed with the much more capable Aegis Combat System. Given a lower requirement for cruisers, it was decided to retire these nuclear-powered ships as a money-saving measure, a decision made while "Texas" was in the middle of her refueling overhaul. The early "Ticonderoga"-class cruisers which lacked the Vertical Launch System had equally short careers, serving between 18 and 21 years.