The White House has unveiled a presidential memorandum directing the US Navy to revert to steam catapults on the upcoming USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier, CVN-81. This directive marks a significant shift in naval technology, driven by President Donald Trump’s long-standing preference for steam systems over the modern electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
The memorandum, titled “Rebuilding the United States Navy and America’s Shipbuilding Industrial Base,” aims to address what it describes as “a series of shipbuilding setbacks stemming from overly complex designs.” The order specifically targets the Ford-class aircraft carrier, which is already two years behind schedule.
Trump’s Long-Standing Preference for Steam Catapults
President Trump’s fascination with steam catapults dates back to 2017, when he claimed to have been convinced of their superiority by a Navy officer. According to Trump, the electromagnetic system is too complex and costly. The presidential memorandum instructs the Secretary of War, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, to provide a plan within 60 days for replacing the EMALS and advanced weapons elevators with steam and hydraulic systems on CVN-81.
The directive has sparked criticism from experts, including Senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and US Navy test pilot. Kelly, who has extensive experience launching from aircraft carriers, questioned Trump’s decision, stating that even he would not suggest specific engineering changes to the Navy. “I’ve launched off the front of aircraft carriers hundreds of times, have a Master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, and am a test pilot and even I wouldn’t suggest to the Navy how to engineer specific systems on its ships,” Kelly remarked.
Pentagon’s Response to Morale Concerns on USS Abraham Lincoln
The US military’s Central Command (Centcom) has addressed recent reports of a mental health crisis onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently on a record-breaking deployment tied to the war with Iran. Centcom posted a “fact check” on social media, labeling six recent reports about morale on the aircraft carrier as “false” or “misinformed.” However, the graphic included screenshots of headlines from Iranian state media outlets, which repeated the false claim that seven US sailors died in a brawl on the ship.
The Centcom post criticized “rampant misreporting” from multiple media outlets but failed to clarify that half of the outlets cited were linked to Iran’s government. The post also discredited well-sourced reporting from US news outlets, Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, which first reported multiple sailors attempting to jump overboard. Centcom ended the post by scolding the unnamed media outlets, calling their work “a disservice to our men and women in uniform and their loved ones.”
International Reactions and Domestic Surveillance
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that he had urged Trump to lift newly announced tariffs on Australia during a “wide-ranging call.” Albanese asked Trump to exempt Australia from a 12.5% tariff based on a supposed failure to crack down on forced labor. Trump reportedly said he would give the request some thought. Albanese also expressed Australia’s support for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and thanked Trump for the work of Australian firefighters dispatched to the US to help fight wildfires.
In domestic news, newly disclosed records reveal that the US government extensively spied on prominent leftwing organizations and protesters as part of a vast operation into groups opposing the immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier this year. Internal investigative reports show that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent undercover agents to community meetings, infiltrated Signal chats, and obtained financial records of mainstream unions and left-leaning nonprofit groups. The operation, called “Operation Puppet Master,” aimed to identify a “network of conspirators” organizing against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The records were disclosed as part of a criminal case filed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) against 15 Minneapolis protesters. The defendants are accused of a “conspiracy” to “impede” US immigration officers during the Trump administration’s surge in the region. The DHS investigative reports were submitted to the court by an attorney for one of the defendants, revealing the scope and apparent lack of investigative discipline involved in the operation.
