President Donald Trump has formally ordered the Department of Defense to transition back to steam-powered catapult systems for aircraft launches on future Gerald Ford-class carriers. The memorandum tasks Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with developing a plan within 60 days to implement hydraulic catapults on the upcoming USS Doris Miller, the fourth vessel in the class. This move marks a significant shift in naval design, as the Navy has been moving toward the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for its newest generation of ships.

The directive has faced immediate pushback from Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a former astronaut and Navy veteran. Kelly criticized the move, suggesting that the decision ignores the expertise of naval officers and could result in unnecessary costs. While the Washington Examiner reports that Kelly characterized the administration's approach to the technical overhaul as "bulls***," the South China Morning Post (SCMP) frames the order as the fulfillment of a long-standing personal complaint held by the President.

There is a notable discrepancy regarding the scope of the order. The SCMP reports that the directive specifically targets the USS Doris Miller, whereas the Washington Examiner frames the order as a broader overhaul of aircraft carrier launch systems. Furthermore, the two outlets differ on the motivation behind the policy; the SCMP emphasizes the President's personal history of complaining about the technology, while the Washington Examiner focuses on the potential for a "hefty paycheck" and the political friction between the White House and Democratic lawmakers.