America-class ships show the politics of ski jumps

Why do US amphibious aviation ships not add ski ramps for STOVL aircraft?

Ski jumps improve takeoff performance, but the US Navy may fear making smaller carrier alternatives look too attractive politically.

Ski ramps would improve STOVL launch performance on aviation-centered amphibious ships. One suggested reason for resistance is political: once a large amphibious ship looks like a cheap carrier, Congress may ask harder questions about supercarrier costs. A useful technical option could therefore complicate the carrier procurement argument. The first two America-class ships omit a well deck, while later members restore it, so the class contains different balances between aviation and amphibious lift.