Trump's Name Returns to Kennedy Center, Navy Orders Shift Back to Steam Catapults

Donald Trump's influence on national institutions has seen his name re-emerge at the Kennedy Center and a significant shift in U.S. Navy procurement policy. The Kennedy Center's board of trustees voted on August 13, 2026, to inscribe "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump" on the building's facade, along with renaming the grounds "President Donald J. Trump Plaza." This decision directly challenges a May 2026 federal court ruling that had ordered Trump's name removed, citing that only Congress can alter the center's designation. The board, largely appointed by Trump, also approved a two-year closure for renovations, a move previously blocked by the same judge, prompting Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty to vow further legal action against what she termed a "transparent effort to circumvent the Court's ruling."

Concurrently, President Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum on August 13, 2026, directing the U.S. Navy to revert to steam catapults for launching aircraft on future Ford-class carriers, specifically impacting the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81). This mandate reverses the Navy's adoption of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which is currently used on the first three Ford-class carriers. Trump has consistently criticized EMALS for its cost and complexity, advocating for the older, steam-powered systems he views as more reliable. This directive is projected to incur billions of dollars in additional costs and has drawn opposition from the EMALS contractor, General Atomics, which warned of potential setbacks to carrier readiness and technological superiority. The memorandum also calls for the establishment of a fifth public shipyard and a new component repair center to address submarine maintenance backlogs.