Military procurement costs have been in an upward spiral for decades. The amount of pork in the budget for that carrier that will never affect or see the carrier itself approaches a full quarter of the cost. Then there is the indirect pork. But the other cost ballon reason is first of class issues which are common in all navies and major weapons systems. Either way, I think we are gradually heading towards the end of the Carrier, just as WW2 heralded the end of the Battleship, at least as we know it today. The damn things are just too expensive to build, maintain, and crew and operate!