Trump Orders Navy to Return to Steam Aircraft Catapults

President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum on Thursday directing the U.S. Navy to replace electromagnetic catapult systems with traditional steam catapults on future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. The order mandates the redesign of the USS Doris Miller and all subsequent ships in the class, though the first three vessels—the Ford, John F. Kennedy, and Enterprise—will retain their existing systems.

Trump based the decision on years of criticism regarding the complexity of the electromagnetic systems, which he described as not being "nearly as good." The White House defended the move, stating that steam and hydraulic systems are more resilient and robust than the current follow-on systems.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth must develop a transition plan within 60 days. The memorandum also includes broader initiatives to revive U.S. shipbuilding, such as establishing a new public shipyard and a Component Repair Center for submarine maintenance.

Navy officials and industry leaders have resisted the directive. General Atomics warned that changing course now would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks. While the administration emphasizes resilience, critics maintain that electromagnetic systems are more reliable and cheaper to operate.