Trump orders steam catapults back on Ford-class carriers, paves path for fifth public shipyard

President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum directing Ford-class aircraft carriers to reintroduce steam-powered catapults and hydraulics for the elevators, reversing the EMALS approach; the memo also calls for establishing a fifth public shipyard to handle submarine repairs and a new component repair center to reduce maintenance delays, aiming to boost carrier readiness and domestic industrial capability, though experts warn of redesign challenges and production lead times.