"A US Navy official told CNN the McCain had experienced a loss of steering before the collision, but that steering had been regained."
It is certainly too early to know if this contributed to the incident, or if indeed it actually happened, but . . . . .
The across-the-board funding cuts to military budgets that resulted under the Obama administration’s Budget Control Act, known as sequestration, have shrunk the number of available aircraft and warships in the American arsenal to their lowest point since World War II.
The Navy fleets had a $500-million ship maintenance budget shortfall leftover from 2016 that continues to grow in 2017. The shipyards and aviation depots are failing to get ships and aircraft through maintenance periods on time.
In February, the Navy reported nearly two-thirds of its F/A 18 strike fighter jets are currently unable to fly, grounded due to repair delays or because they are awaiting spare parts. The USMC reported 70% of its combat aircraft were unable to fly. Its usable planes are being pushed to the limit. I couldn't readily find the same availability statistics for the Navy's warships, but they are undoubtedly operationally affected as well.
Training has similarly suffered and SWO's (Surface Warfare Officers) are being pushed into the fleet with less training than ever before.
IMO, I believe we (the public) are just beginning to see the results of these budget cuts to a military deployed throughout the globe and stretched far too thin.