Trump Orders Navy to Swap Futuristic Jet-Launch Tech for Steam-Powered Catapults Because Magnets Scare Him
What’s Happening at a Glance
- Trump directed the Navy to replace the electromagnetic launch system (EMALS) on the upcoming USS Doris Miller with older steam catapults.
- The change could add billions to the carrier’s cost and push its service date from ~2034 to the late 2030s.
- Experts say steam catapults are more complex, costly to maintain, and the U.S. no longer has a domestic production line for them.
- Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly criticized the move, saying Trump should leave ship engineering to the professionals.
Summary
President Donald Trump has issued a White House memo ordering Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to develop a plan within 60 days to install steam-powered catapults on the USS Doris Miller, an aircraft carrier currently under construction. The directive reverses the Navy’s plan to use the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) that equips the newest carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, and would require a major redesign of the ship. Naval experts warn that reintroducing steam catapults would necessitate restarting a dormant manufacturing base, likely costing billions and delaying the carrier’s entry into service until the late 2030s. The White House claims the change will “fix critical long-term issues” in shipbuilding, but critics argue it reflects Trump’s longstanding skepticism of EMALS, which he has called overly complex and unreliable despite evidence showing lower operating costs and smoother launches. Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and astronaut, denounced the order as inappropriate political interference in technical naval matters.
Why This Is Happening
Trump’s fixation on steam versus electromagnetic catapults dates back to at least 2023, when he publicly dismissed EMALS as too fragile, claiming magnets fail when exposed to water and rough seas. He has repeatedly praised the simplicity of steam systems, despite their higher maintenance demands and the fact that the U.S. Navy has not built new steam catapults since the USS George H. W. Bush entered service in 2009. The administration frames the shift as a cost‑saving, reliability‑focused reform, but experts note that EMALS has already demonstrated reduced personnel and maintenance expenses – saving roughly $100 million per year on the Ford‑class carriers. The move appears driven more by Trump’s personal preference and a desire to showcase a return to “traditional” technology than by concrete naval readiness assessments.
Impact on Americans
- Taxpayers could face billions of dollars in extra costs for redesigning and rebuilding steam catapult production lines.
- The carrier’s delayed deployment may leave the Navy with fewer operational flattops during the 2030s, potentially affecting power projection and crisis response.
- Higher long‑term maintenance expenses for steam systems could divert funds from other defense priorities or personnel benefits.
- Shipyard workers and suppliers may experience uncertainty as the Navy shifts contracts from established EMALS providers to a revived steam catapult industry that currently does not exist at scale.
