Trump's Carrier Catapult Reversal Faces Billions in Costs and Decade-Long Delays

Key points

• A White House memorandum directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to submit a plan within 60 days to install steam catapults on the USS Doris Miller, the fourth ship of the Gerald R. Ford class.
• The USS Doris Miller is currently under construction with a keel laying scheduled for late 2026 and an expected delivery date of February 2034.
• The first three Ford-class carriers (Ford, Kennedy, Enterprise) will retain their existing EMALS systems, which have completed over 36,000 launches since 2017.
• Naval experts estimate the redesign will add billions to the cost and push the ship's service date to the end of the next decade.
• The US Navy has not manufactured steam catapults since the USS George H. W. Bush entered service in 2009, meaning production infrastructure must be rebuilt from scratch.

Background

This directive follows earlier reports in August 2026 that Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum reversing the EMALS approach for Ford-class carriers. The move coincides with ongoing strain in the fleet, including recent deployments of the USS George Washington to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East amid reported morale issues.

How outlets are covering it

CNN and USA Today highlight the technical and financial risks, noting that EMALS saves the Navy $100 million annually in maintenance and provides smoother launches. Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery called the reversal 'illogical and a waste of money.' Conversely, the White House fact sheet argues the change will 'fix critical long-term issues' in shipbuilding. Trump has previously criticized EMALS as too complex and prone to failure in rough seas, citing a conversation with a Navy officer. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly criticized the order as an unqualified attempt to dictate engineering specifics.

Why it matters

The decision could significantly reduce US carrier capacity in the 2030s due to delays and increased costs. It also signals a major shift in naval procurement strategy, potentially affecting domestic industrial capability and the readiness of the fleet during a period of heightened geopolitical tension.

What to watch

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth must submit a detailed plan for the steam catapult transition within 60 days. The Navy must also address the logistical challenge of restarting steam catapult production, which has been dormant for over 15 years. General Atomics, the current EMALS contractor, has been contacted for comment.