Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Navy to undertake the unusual action of renaming a ship that honors a gay rights figure, as revealed by documents and sources.
Military.com has examined a memorandum from the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, which holds the authority to name Navy vessels, indicating that plans are underway to rename the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk.
According to Straight Arrow News, a defense official confirmed that the Navy is preparing to remove the ship's current name, following orders from Hegseth to Navy Secretary John Phelan. The official also highlighted the timing of the announcement during Pride Month as deliberate.
The memo, reviewed by Military.com, suggests the renaming aligns with the objectives of President Donald Trump, Hegseth, and Phelan to "reestablish the warrior culture." Despite attempts to reach Hegseth's office for comment, no immediate response was received.
Harvey Milk, a trailblazer in the gay civil rights movement, was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States during the 1970s. Tragically, he was assassinated while serving on San Francisco's board of supervisors.
The renaming announcement is set for June 13, with Hegseth and Phelan planning to reveal the new name aboard the USS Constitution.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, representing San Francisco, criticized the decision, stating it represents "a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country."
The USNS Harvey Milk is part of the John Lewis-class oilers, named after notable civil rights leaders. CBS reported that the Navy is also contemplating renaming other ships in this class, including the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and USNS Harriet Tubman.
Pelosi condemned the potential renaming as "a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream," arguing that such actions do not enhance national security or the "warrior" ethos.
While renaming ships post-construction is rare, the Navy has previously renamed vessels with Confederate ties, such as the USS Chancellorsville and USNS Maury, following recommendations from a congressional commission.
Initially named after Milk in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, the oiler honors Milk's naval service and his subsequent political career. Milk's legacy endures, having been posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
The USNS Harvey Milk is currently undergoing maintenance in Alabama, expected to conclude by the end of June.
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