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WASHINGTON — Navy steam catapults will return under an order signed by President Donald Trump, forcing a major redesign of the unfinished USS Doris Miller. The decision would force a major redesign of the unfinished USS Doris Miller. It could also add billions in costs while requiring more sailors to operate the ship.

Trump signed the presidential memorandum Thursday as part of a larger plan to rebuild the Navy and expand the nation’s shipbuilding industry. The order targets the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, known as EMALS, and the ship’s advanced weapons elevators.

Pentagon and Navy leaders have 60 days to produce a replacement plan. That plan must explain how they would install steam catapults and hydraulic elevators aboard the Doris Miller, designated CVN-81.

The three earlier Ford-class carriers will keep their electromagnetic systems. Those ships include the USS Gerald R. Ford and the unfinished USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise.

Navy Steam Catapults Would Require a Major Redesign

The White House described steam and hydraulic systems as proven, reliable and affordable technology. However, work on the Doris Miller’s electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear is already halfway complete.

General Atomics, which manufactures EMALS, warned that changing direction now would create significant cost, scheduling and integration risks. The company urged the administration to reconsider the decision.

The warning exposes a contradiction inside the president’s memorandum. Trump criticized repeated Navy design changes for driving cost increases, delays and cancellations. His order now requires a major change to a ship whose design has already been finalized.

The Associated Press reported that converting the Doris Miller could cost billions of dollars. The White House has not released its own cost estimate or explained how long the redesign could delay construction.

Congress would need to approve the necessary funding. The memorandum also states that the administration must carry out its directives within existing law and available appropriations.

Trump Has Criticized EMALS for Years

Trump has opposed electromagnetic catapults since his first term. In 2017, he complained that the system lacked the power of traditional steam equipment and told the Navy to return to steam.

EMALS uses magnetic energy to accelerate aircraft along a carrier’s flight deck. The system allows operators to adjust launch force for different aircraft, including lighter unmanned systems that steam catapults could damage.

The Navy has also promoted EMALS as easier to maintain and less demanding on personnel. The system requires two sailors to operate each catapult, compared with about a dozen for steam equipment.

That manpower difference comes at a difficult time. At the beginning of 2026, the Navy had approximately 20,000 unfilled positions across its fleet. Recruiting gains have not translated into enough sailors to fill jobs aboard operational warships.

China already uses electromagnetic catapults on its newest aircraft carrier. France also plans to install the technology aboard its next carrier. Trump’s order would place the Doris Miller on a different technological path from both countries.

More Sailors for a Navy Already Under Pressure

The staffing issue extends beyond launch systems. Reports from the USS Abraham Lincoln have raised concerns about deployment length, morale and access to mental health care after more than 250 days at sea.

The Navy is sending the USS George Washington toward the Middle East to replace the Lincoln. The replacement comes as the military continues supporting Operation Epic Fury and maintaining commitments in other regions.

Returning to Navy steam catapults could increase the personnel required aboard future carriers. It could also add maintenance demands to ships that already struggle to keep enough trained sailors in critical positions.

The White House argues that older technology will improve reliability. Critics and the system’s manufacturer say the change could create new costs and delays without resolving the Navy’s larger readiness problems.

Order Opens Door to Foreign Shipbuilders

The memorandum reaches far beyond the Doris Miller. Trump also directed the Navy to consider foreign shipbuilders as part of a plan to reduce construction backlogs.

The administration calls its approach the “Finland model.” Foreign companies could build the first two ships in selected classes at their existing shipyards. They would then need to invest in American facilities, train U.S. workers and transfer their construction technology.

Future ships would move to American shipyards under the plan. Participating companies would also need to establish domestic supply chains for construction and maintenance.

Trump ordered the Pentagon to develop plans for a fifth public Navy shipyard, which would be the first new one in more than 80 years. The proposed yard would expand repair capacity for submarines and aircraft carriers, particularly near the Pacific Fleet.

The memorandum also calls for a new component repair center and a review of Naval Sea Systems Command. The administration says those changes will reduce bureaucracy and hold leaders accountable for ship delivery delays.

Costs Rise During an Expensive War

The Navy overhaul arrives as the Iran war places growing pressure on the Pentagon’s budget. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated last month that the conflict had already cost $37.5 billion.

House Republicans approved a $95 billion military funding package, but the Senate has not acted. Trump has also proposed a $1.5 trillion defense budget as the military works to replenish weapons and maintain operations overseas.

The administration says the new shipbuilding plan will strengthen the fleet and restore American maritime power. The first test will come within 60 days, when Navy leaders must explain what Trump’s steam catapult order will cost, how long it will take and where they will find the sailors to operate it.