By Tony Capaccio
On August 13, 2026, President Donald Trump made a decision to bring back steam catapults for launching planes from aircraft carriers. This decision comes despite opposition from many naval officers and addresses a longstanding complaint.
In a memo, Trump instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to create a plan within 60 days detailing what would be required to use hydraulic catapults on the future Gerald Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The USS Doris Miller will be the fourth ship in the six-vessel Gerald R. Ford-class.
The Navy has faced issues with its modern electromagnetic system used to launch jets from the USS Gerald R. Ford, the first of the new class of carriers. Trump has taken notice of these problems for several years and has been vocal about his criticism, including a recent instance where he shared a service member's feedback about the system.
“He said steam is better, sir,” Trump recounted. “We can fix it with a hammer and a blowtorch.”
Implementing this decision will likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars since the upcoming aircraft carriers will need significant redesigns to accommodate steam catapults. Some naval officers argue that the newer system is actually an improvement because it requires less pre- and post-flight maintenance.
This decision is part of a broader memo aimed at revitalizing US shipbuilding. Trump has also directed Hegseth to develop a plan for building a fifth Navy shipyard and to create a new "competitive acquisition approach" for surface ships that can effectively target submarines and serve as convoy escorts.