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5 clusters · 76 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

US Navy aircraft carrier redesign and renaming controversy

Overview

President Donald Trump has issued a national security memorandum and executive order directing the U.S. Navy to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and electromagnetic weapons elevators on the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) with traditional steam and hydraulic systems. The White House cited budget overruns and complexity as justifications, with the President describing EMALS as “expensive and inefficient.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao are tasked with presenting a transition plan within 60 days.

Beyond propulsion, the memorandum includes instructions for design changes to align with the President’s aesthetic preferences, such as potentially relocating the command tower toward the center of the hull. Critics, including Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), warn the move could result in billions of dollars in costs and major construction delays. Because steam catapults have not been produced for nearly three decades, manufacturing hurdles are expected, potentially delaying the carrier's delivery from 2034 into the late 2030s.

In addition to the technical redesign, internal discussions reported by CNN indicate the Navy is considering renaming the vessel to honor Donald Trump. This would be unprecedented, as no U.S. aircraft carrier has been named after a sitting president. While the Navy considers the name change, officials are reportedly weighing the possibility of assigning Doris Miller’s name to a different warship and recommending him for the Medal of Honor. Miller’s family has expressed shock at the potential renaming, noting they were not informed by the Navy.

Entities

Donald Trump · USS Doris Miller · U.S. Navy · General Atomics · US Navy

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

Timeline

  1. about 8 hours ago

    [POLITICS] 10 sources
    US Navy considers renaming Doris Miller aircraft carrier for Donald Trump

    The US Navy is considering renaming a Ford-class aircraft carrier from the USS Doris Miller to honor Donald Trump, while also mandating a shift from electromagnetic to steam-powered catapult systems.

  2. 2 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Trump executive order directs Navy to return to steam-powered aircraft catapults

    An executive order by President Trump to replace electromagnetic catapults with steam power on U.S. aircraft carriers faces criticism over potential multi-billion dollar costs and fleet readiness risks.

  3. 5 days ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Donald Trump orders return to steam catapults for USS Doris Miller

    President Trump has ordered the USS Doris Miller to use traditional steam catapults instead of electromagnetic systems, prompting assessments from the Pentagon and French defense officials.

  4. 7 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Trump orders shift to steam systems for new US aircraft carrier

    President Trump has ordered the replacement of electromagnetic launch systems on the CVN-81 aircraft carrier with steam systems, while Israel's Defense Minister moves to transfer West Bank civil enforcement to'

  5. 7 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 62 sources
    Donald Trump orders Navy to revert to steam catapults on future aircraft carriers

    President Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to replace electromagnetic launch systems with steam catapults on the future USS Doris Miller and explore design changes to match WWII-era aesthetics.

Sources

aerotime.aero · americanfaith.com · arabnews.pk · aresdifesa.it · avioblog.it · barlamantoday.com · bilder3.n-tv.de · ca.sports.yahoo.com · clubic.com · cn24tv.it · cnn.co.jp · compartir-tecnologias.es · dnyuz.com · dongeradeel.nl · english.mathrubhumi.com · europesays.com · express.be · fehmarn24.de · finance.technews.tw · foreignpolicyjournal.com · fr.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · freerepublic.com · gandul.ro · gcaptain.com · ilquotidianoweb.it · independent.co.uk · indomiliter.com · jdn.co.il · joemygod.com · kstp.com · leinetal24.de · libertyunyielding.com · liveblog.wtop.com · lopinion.fr · lsdmagazine.com · m.imaeil.com · m.otz.de · media.merkur.de · mobil.abendblatt.de · mobil.n-tv.de · nbcnews.com · news.heraldcorp.com · ondrejov.cz · opex360.com · oslobodjenje.ba · planobrazil.com · rugbybold.com

This summary has been updated 10 times: see revision history