--- title: "Trump orders US Navy to replace electromagnetic catapults with steam on new carriers" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-orders-us-navy-to-replace-electromagnetic-catapults-with-steam-on-new-carr" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trump-orders-us-navy-to-replace-electromagnetic-catapults-with-steam-on-new-carr" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-orders-us-navy-to-replace-electromagnetic-catapults-with-steam-on-new-carr.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trump-orders-us-navy-to-replace-electromagnetic-catapults-with-steam-on-new-carr" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-14T01:05:28.766Z" source_reported: "2026-08-14T00:29:58.000Z" updated: "2026-08-14T01:05:28.766Z" trust_score: 92 critic_score: 85 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-14T01:00:38.876046+00:00" --- # Trump orders US Navy to replace electromagnetic catapults with steam on new carriers *The directive reverses a modernisation programme and is expected to cost billions of dollars* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 92 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports from centre and left outlets. - Craft 85 of 100, higher is better. Multiple digests corroborate key facts. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Measured language in most reports. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to replace electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS) with steam catapults on its newest Ford-class carriers, starting with the USS Doris Miller. - The decision is expected to cost billions of dollars and will require more sailors to operate than the electromagnetic system, which the Navy has struggled to staff. - The move reverses a modernisation programme despite China and France adopting electromagnetic catapults for their latest carriers. - Congress will consider the funding for the change as part of broader defence budget negotiations in September. President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to remove the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) from its newest Ford-class aircraft carriers and replace it with steam catapults. The directive, issued on 13 August 2026, requires the Pentagon and the Navy to present plans for the change within two months. The USS Doris Miller, the fourth Ford-class carrier, will be the first to undergo the modification. The decision is expected to cost billions of dollars. The electromagnetic system, which reduces the number of sailors needed to operate catapults from about a dozen to two, is easier to maintain and allows faster aircraft launches than steam catapults. The Navy has reported difficulty filling posts across its fleet, with approximately 20,000 unfilled positions at the start of 2026. Trump has long criticised EMALS, calling it "not good" and lacking the power of steam catapults in a 2017 interview. The newest Chinese aircraft carriers use electromagnetic catapults, and France plans to adopt the system for its next carrier. General Atomics, the manufacturer of EMALS, said the decision "warrants careful reconsideration" and warned of "significant cost, schedule, and integration risks" as work on the Doris Miller’s catapults is already halfway complete. The move comes as Congress prepares to debate defence funding, including a $95 billion package proposed by Republicans to fund the military and the war in Iran. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated the war’s cost at $37.5 billion. The House passed the funding bills in August, but the Senate has yet to act. ## What the coverage left out Neither of the right-rated digests mentioned the $37.5 billion cost estimate for the war in Iran or the fact that reverting to steam catapults will require more sailors. None of the centre-rated digests quoted Trump’s 2017 remark about steam catapults. The Associated Press and Washington Top News full reports were the only ones to quote General Atomics’ warning about the risks of changing course. ## Who covered it Shares of the 21 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 48% (10) - Centre: 42% (9) - Right: 10% (2) 0 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-14T01:00:38.876046+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-14T01:45:09.783Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - All ten left-rated digests led on the cost of the decision and the fact that it will increase the number of sailors required to operate the catapults. The Associated Press and Washington Top News, whose full reports are printed below, both quoted Trump’s 2017 remark that the Navy was "going to goddamned steam". The Associated Press report described the move as reverting to a system that is "more difficult to maintain". - Raw Story’s digest, citing the Wall Street Journal, called the decision a "billion-dollar order to rip out new Navy tech" that "hands enemies a gift". The Independent, Stuff, and Spiegel digests all noted that the move would cost billions. None of the left-rated digests omitted the fact that China and France are adopting electromagnetic catapults. ### Centre - The nine centre-rated digests led on the directive itself and the timeline for the Navy to present plans. South China Morning Post and Political Wire digests both noted that the decision was made "despite opposition from many naval officers". Maritime Reporter and WTVB digests described the electromagnetic system as "complex". - Washington Top News, whose full report is printed below, quoted Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s estimate that the war in Iran has cost $37.5 billion. None of the centre-rated digests omitted the cost estimate or the fact that the change will require more sailors. ### Right - Both right-rated digests led on the directive and the establishment of a fifth public shipyard. Welt’s digest linked the decision to complaints about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is being replaced. Neither digest mentioned the cost estimate or the fact that the change will require more sailors to operate the catapults. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 3 - high: 13 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Stuff](https://stuff.co.nz/world-news/361020244/trump-orders-navy-return-older-system-launch) — Trump orders Navy to return to old steam catapaults he likes, in order costing billions - [rbc.ua](https://rbc.ua/ukr/news/tramp-nakazav-povernuti-parovi-katapulti-1786666769.html) — Trump Ordered the Return of Steam Catapults for Aircraft Carriers. - [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/08/13/trump-carriers-catapults) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/government/2026/08/trump-orders-the-navy-to-return-to-an-older-system-of-launching-jets-off-aircraft-carriers) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/trump-orders-the-navy-to-return-to-an-older-system-of-launching-jets-off-aircraft-carriers) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/navy-donald-trump-washington-pentagon-france-b3032892.html) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/trump-aircraft-carriers-steam-catapults-ffa9f3ce102ecd5d6126db03e901a56f) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [El Paso Inc.](https://elpasoinc.com/news/ap_wire/trump-orders-the-navy-to-return-to-an-older-system-of-launching-jets-off-aircraft/article_653670f0-59a4-5444-8a4b-08ad28273ecc.html) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/08/14/trump-orders-the-navy-to-return-to-an-older-system-of-launching-jets-off-aircraft-carriers) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [South China Morning Post](https://scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363965/trump-orders-us-aircraft-carriers-go-back-steam-catapults) — Trump orders US aircraft carriers to go back to steam catapults - [INTELLINEWS](https://intelli.news/2026/08/13/flugzeugtrager-uss-abraham-lincoln-wird-abgelost-trump-ordnet-ruckkehr-zu-dampfkatapulten-an) — Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Is Being Replaced – Trump Orders Return to Steam Catapults - [Welt](https://welt.de/politik/ausland/article6a7e45b0169e8e32c0ae756f/nach-klagen-ueber-missstaende-flugzeugtraeger-uss-abraham-lincoln-wird-abgeloest-trump-ordnet-rueckkehr-zu-dampfkatapulten-an.html) — After Complaints About Maladministration: Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Is Replaced – Trump Orders Return to Steam Catapults - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/trump-steam-aircraft-carriers) — Trump's billion-dollar order to rip out new Navy tech hands enemies a gift: WSJ - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/13/trump-orders-return-of-steam-catapults-on-carriers-fifth-public-shipyard) — Trump orders return of steam catapults on carriers, fifth public shipyard - [Spiegel](https://spiegel.de/ausland/donald-trump-ordnet-rueckkehr-zu-dampfkatapulten-auf-us-flugzeugtraegern-an-a-37da79a9-f62c-4537-8dc2-f58eeb601fc2) — Donald Trump Orders Return to Steam Catapults on US Aircraft Carriers - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/08/13/trump-orders-navy-to-tear-out-jet-launch-system-return-to-steam-catapults) — Trump orders Navy to tear out jet launch system, return to steam catapults - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/08/13/trump-orders-aircraft-carriers-to-use-steam-catapults) — Trump Orders Aircraft Carriers to Use Steam Catapults - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/united-states/trump-orders-the-navy-to-return-to-an-older-system-of-launching-jets-off-aircraft-carriers/article_96a1ce49-8c2d-59e5-af7e-8e7a511bd002.html) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/news/world/united-states/trump-orders-the-navy-to-return-to-an-older-system-of-launching-jets-off-aircraft-carriers/article_76e63659-8b9b-5696-b96d-8764fc4ecc2b.html) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers - [Maritime Reporter](https://marinelink.com/news/trump-orders-navy-return-steam-catapults-542104) — Trump Orders Navy to Return to Steam Catapults - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/08/13/trump-orders-the-navy-to-return-to-an-older-system-of-launching-jets-off-aircraft-carriers) — Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers ## Questions **Why is Trump ordering the Navy to replace electromagnetic catapults?** Trump ordered the replacement because he has long preferred steam catapults, calling the electromagnetic system "not good" in 2017. The decision reverses a modernisation programme despite the newer system requiring fewer sailors and being easier to maintain. The move is expected to cost billions of dollars. **How much will the change cost?** The decision to replace electromagnetic catapults with steam catapults is expected to cost billions of dollars. General Atomics, the manufacturer, warned that changing course now would introduce significant cost, schedule, and integration risks, as work on the USS Doris Miller is already halfway complete. **Which countries use electromagnetic catapults?** China’s newest aircraft carriers use electromagnetic catapults, and France plans to adopt the system for its next carrier. The US Navy’s decision to revert to steam catapults contrasts with these modernisation efforts by other naval powers. **What happens next with the funding?** Congress will consider the funding for the change as part of broader defence budget negotiations in September. The House has already passed a $95 billion package to fund the military and the war in Iran, but the Senate has yet to act. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-orders-us-navy-to-replace-electromagnetic-catapults-with-steam-on-new-carr. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Trump orders US Navy to replace electromagnetic catapults with steam on new carriers", https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-orders-us-navy-to-replace-electromagnetic-catapults-with-steam-on-new-carr