Navy Reviews Ford-Class Carriers After Trump Battleship Proposal

The United States Navy is conducting a design and cost review of the Ford-class aircraft carrier, focusing specifically on two planned but uncontracted vessels: the USS William Jefferson Clinton and the USS George W. Bush. Navy Secretary John Phelan refused to rule out the cancellation of future versions of the design as part of this evaluation.

The review follows criticisms from President Donald Trump, who claimed the carriers' magnetic catapults were non-functional. Recent Navy budget documents reflect this uncertainty, omitting the specific Ford-class designation for planned purchases and listing them only as aircraft carriers, while other ship classes remain named.

While the Navy maintains the Ford-class is a "battle-proven design" with superior launch rates compared to Nimitz-class ships, Phelan stated he intends to verify this data. Concurrently, President Trump has introduced the Trump-class battleship, with the first vessel, USS Defiant, expected to receive funding in the 2028 budget year at an estimated cost exceeding $17 billion.