Exclusive | Trump Orders Navy to Restore Older Tech on Aircraft Carriers, Costing Billions

A presidential memo has officially ordered the United States Navy to transition aircraft carriers away from current launch technology and back to steam catapults. The directive additionally calls for the establishment of a fifth public shipyard to support the nation's shipbuilding industrial base. This policy shift represents a formal reversal of the previous transition toward newer launch systems.

Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal report that this executive action carries a multi-billion dollar price tag. According to USNI News, the order is framed within a broader effort to rebuild the Navy's infrastructure. Breaking Defense notes that the directive specifically prioritizes the restoration of older, proven mechanical technology across the fleet.

Coverage does not yet specify the timeline for decommissioning existing launch systems or the operational impact of this transition on active carrier groups. While the financial scope is noted as costing billions, specific budgetary allocations have not been publicly detailed. Experts have yet to provide a consensus on the logistics of reintegrating steam technology into modern carrier designs.