[REVISION HISTORY]

US Navy aircraft carrier redesign and renaming controversy

Updated 10 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-21 00:11 UTC → 2026-08-21 05:27 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. ~~This directive specifically targets the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), the fourth Ford-class aircraft carrier, currently under construction at HII Newport News Shipbuilding.~~ The White House cited budget ~~overruns, delays,~~ overruns and ~~excessive~~ complexity as justifications, with the President ~~previously~~ describing EMALS ~~technology~~ as “expensive and inefficient.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao ~~have been~~ 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 to resemble World War II-era vessels.~~ 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. Analysts warn these delays could shrink the active carrier fleet to as few as nine vessels during the next decade. General Atomics, the manufacturer of the EMALS system, noted that work on the USS Doris Miller’s catapults and arresting gear is already approximately 50% complete, making the redesign a significant technical risk. Estimates suggest the redesign could delay expected, potentially delaying the carrier's delivery from 2034 into the late 2030s. ~~France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces stated the decision will not jeopardize electromagnetic launch systems planned for France’s next aircraft carrier.~~ In addition to the technical redesign, ~~reports~~ internal discussions reported by CNN indicate the ~~U.S.~~ Navy is considering renaming the vessel to honor Donald Trump. ~~The current~~ This would be unprecedented, as no U.S. aircraft carrier has been named after a sitting president. While the Navy considers the name ~~honors~~ change, officials are reportedly weighing the possibility of assigning Doris ~~Miller, a Black enlisted sailor who became~~ Miller’s name to a ~~hero during~~ different warship and recommending him for the ~~attack on Pearl Harbor.~~ Medal of Honor. Miller’s family has expressed shock at the potential renaming, noting they were not informed by the Navy.

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