The short version
- President Trump has issued a national security memorandum requiring the Pentagon to replace electromagnetic launch systems with steam catapults on the USS Doris Miller.
- Industry leaders and naval experts warn that reversing course on a ship nearly half-complete will introduce significant cost overruns, schedule delays, and integration risks.
- The order reflects a long-standing preference by Trump for older mechanical systems, which he has argued are simpler to maintain and less expensive than digital alternatives.
President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Defense to fundamentally alter the design of a new aircraft carrier, ordering the replacement of modern electromagnetic launch systems with traditional steam-powered catapults. The directive, issued via national security memorandum on Thursday, targets the USS Doris Miller, a Ford-class vessel currently under construction. This move mandates that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao develop a plan within sixty days to implement these changes, effectively reversing years of technological advancement in naval aviation infrastructure.
The decision marks the culmination of a persistent campaign by Trump, who has publicly criticized digital launch systems since at least 2017. In various public appearances, including interviews and campaign speeches over the past decade, Trump has argued that electromagnetic systems are overly complicated and prohibitively expensive. He has frequently recounted an anecdote involving a conversation with a naval officer, claiming that steam technology is superior because it can be repaired with basic tools like hammers and blowtorches, whereas digital failures require specialized expertise from institutions like MIT.
The USS Doris Miller is already facing significant challenges, having fallen two years behind its original construction schedule. The vessel represents the latest iteration of the Ford-class carriers, which were designed to incorporate advanced technologies intended to improve efficiency and reduce long-term operating costs. By mandating a return to steam catapults and hydraulic systems for weapons elevators, the administration is asking engineers to retrofit a ship that is reportedly nearly fifty percent complete with electromagnetic systems built by General Atomics.
General Atomics, the primary contractor responsible for the electromagnetic aircraft launch system, has expressed serious concerns about the feasibility of this reversal. The company stated that changing course at this stage would introduce substantial risks regarding cost, schedule, and system integration. Industry leaders have noted that the electromagnetic systems are integral to the overall design of the Ford-class carriers, meaning that removing them is not a simple swap but a complex engineering overhaul that could destabilize the entire project timeline.
Critics within the defense community have been swift in their condemnation of the order. Senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and test pilot with extensive experience launching from aircraft carriers, took to social media to criticize the intervention. He emphasized his own technical background in aeronautical engineering to argue that such specific engineering decisions should be left to naval professionals rather than political figures. His comments highlighted a broader tension between executive authority and military expertise in defense procurement.
The financial implications of this redesign are expected to be severe. Trump has previously cited the high cost of modern aircraft carriers, noting that the USS Gerald R. Ford was built for approximately $19 billion. However, experts suggest that tearing out complex, integrated systems from a partially constructed hull will likely drive costs even higher. The initial savings anticipated from using older technology may be offset by the immediate expenses of demolition, re-engineering, and potential delays in commissioning the vessel.
This directive arrives amid broader concerns about the state of the U.S. Navy. Reports have emerged regarding a mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, where sailors and marines are enduring a record-breaking deployment linked to conflicts in the Middle East. While the administration has dismissed concerns about conditions on board as misrepresented, the simultaneous focus on redesigning new vessels highlights a period of significant transition and stress within the naval service.
The next sixty days will be critical in determining how the Pentagon responds to this mandate. Defense leaders must now assess the technical viability of reverting to steam technology on a ship designed for electromagnetic systems. The outcome could set a precedent for future defense projects, signaling whether political preferences can override established engineering standards and long-term strategic planning in military hardware development.
As the debate continues, the incident underscores the growing influence of personal ideology on defense policy. Trump’s insistence on steam catapults is not merely a technical preference but a symbolic rejection of what he views as overly complex modernization efforts. Whether this approach results in a more resilient fleet or simply delays critical capabilities remains to be seen, but the immediate impact will be felt in shipyards and budget offices across the country.
The controversy also raises questions about the stability of defense contracts and the reliability of long-term procurement strategies. If political leaders can unilaterally alter fundamental design specifications of major warships mid-construction, it may deter private industry from investing in advanced technologies for future military projects. The resolution of this dispute will likely have lasting implications for how the U.S. Navy balances innovation with traditionalism.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US Politics↗Trump orders Pentagon to redesign US aircraft carrier to use steam catapults to launch jets
- The Guardian World↗Trump orders Pentagon to scrap modern jet launching tech on new US aircraft carrier and revert to steam catapults – as it happened