President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum on August 13, 2026, permitting the US Navy to build ships abroad for the first time in decades and ordering a shift from electromagnetic to steam catapults on future aircraft carriers [1, 2, 3, 4]. The memorandum temporarily allows foreign shipbuilders with substantial US shipyard investments to build up to two ships in their parent foreign yards [1, 2, 3].

Trump directed the Navy to revert from the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) to steam catapults for launching jets, starting with the fourth Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, USS Doris Miller. The keel of the Doris Miller is planned to be laid by the end of 2026, with delivery expected by early 2034 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The design change is projected to cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars [1, 2, 3, 4].

As of March 2026, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship of her class, completed 36,863 EMALS launches, demonstrating operational use of the system [1, 2]. Despite this, Trump criticized EMALS repeatedly, calling it "too complex" and "not nearly as good" as steam catapults, quoting a servicemember who said, "steam is better, sir. We can fix it with a hammer and a blowtorch" [1, 2, 3, 4].

The Navy selected EMALS in 2009 for its lower lifecycle costs, reduced maintenance, and less stress on aircraft. France’s navy also employs EMALS and has completed thousands of launches despite initial problems [1, 2, 3].

General Atomics, the EMALS manufacturer, warned that switching to steam catapults with nearly half of the Doris Miller production complete "would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks" [1, 2, 3].

Trump’s memorandum also directs the Defense Secretary to establish a fifth naval shipyard to enhance submarine and carrier maintenance capabilities, the first new shipyard in over 80 years [3]. This follows concerns about declining US naval shipbuilding capacity, which have caused backlogs, delays, and cost increases across six major Navy shipbuilding programs [3].

The Defense Secretary must submit a plan within 60 days of August 13 for removing EMALS and installing steam catapults on USS Doris Miller [3, 4].