What Happened
President Reverses Navy Decision on Electromagnetic Launch System
President Donald Trump has signed a national security presidential memorandum directing the Pentagon to remove the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) from the future USS Doris Miller and replace it with steam catapults. The decision reverses a launch-technology decision the US Navy made in 2009 and may carry significant cost, schedule, and integration risk. The USS Doris Miller, the fourth Gerald R. Ford-class carrier, is currently under construction at HII Newport News Shipbuilding, with delivery expected in early 2034. This development was first reported by AeroTime.