President Trump has formally directed the Department of Defense to transition future U.S. aircraft carriers back to steam-powered catapult systems for launching fighter jets. This move reverses the Navy’s long-standing shift toward the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), a technology that has been in development and deployment for over a decade. The order, signed Thursday, tasks Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao with overseeing the redesign of upcoming carriers to accommodate the older, steam-based technology.

This decision marks the fulfillment of a long-standing preference expressed by Trump, who has criticized electromagnetic systems since at least 2017. While the administration views this as a necessary return to proven technology, the shift presents significant logistical and financial challenges.

Sources provide differing perspectives on the implications of this mandate. NDTV highlights the potential for substantial fiscal strain, noting that the redesign could cost billions of dollars. Furthermore, NDTV reports that the transition may exacerbate existing personnel shortages, as steam systems require more sailors to operate than the automated electromagnetic counterparts, at a time when the Navy is already struggling with 20,000 unfilled positions. In contrast, The Guardian focuses on the political history of the decision, framing it as the culmination of years of public complaints by Trump regarding modern carrier technology. While both outlets agree on the core directive, they differ in their emphasis: one focuses on the operational and economic burden, while the other emphasizes the personal nature of the President's long-held policy goal.