Navy Weighs Major Warship Redesign to Match Trump's Preferences

The United States Navy is weighing a major redesign of its new aircraft carriers to align with President Trump’s aesthetic preferences.

This potential shift on Ford-class ships aims to make them resemble World War II-era vessels. The Navy is considering relocating the multistory command center, known as the island, farther forward toward the middle of the ship. In modern designs, the island is typically at the rear, while World War II-era ships featured it more centrally.

Officials familiar with the matter state that this assessment is in its early stages. A similar study conducted during Trump’s first term concluded that moving the island would cost billions of dollars and cause major program delays. Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, notes that altering the island’s location would disrupt the vessel’s weight and buoyancy.

The command center was originally positioned near the back of the Ford-class design to improve flight deck efficiency and flight safety, providing aircraft more room near catapults and minimizing air turbulence for landing planes. President Trump has expressed concerns regarding the appearance of the Ford-class carriers, where the tower is currently positioned closer to the stern.

The Navy’s current shipbuilding plan includes 10 Ford-class ships, each costing $22 billion. One Ford-class carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is currently in service, having arrived at Souda Bay naval base in Greece on March 23, 2026. Three more are under construction, with the USS John F. Kennedy undergoing sea trials. On Thursday, President Trump also signed a national security memorandum calling for future aircraft carriers to revert from electromagnetic catapults to steam-powered systems, a change that would also incur additional time and money. The USS Gerald R. Ford currently uses an electromagnetic catapult.