NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTCILE
In a move stirring both national controversy and political debate, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a vessel originally named to honor the slain LGBTQ rights icon and former San Francisco politician.
According to documents obtained by Military.com, the directive was issued by the Office of the Secretary of the Navy at Hegseth’s behest. Navy Secretary John Phelan is overseeing the renaming process under Hegseth’s guidance, with the timing—early in Pride Month—sparking backlash from civil rights advocates and members of Congress.
A Pentagon source confirmed that the move is part of a broader effort to reinforce what the Trump administration is calling a “warrior culture,” a shift away from symbolic or identity-based recognitions within the armed forces. The same memo states that the renaming is designed to “align with presidential priorities,” reflecting directives from President Donald Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and Secretary Phelan.
The USNS Harvey Milk is currently part of the John Lewis-class of replenishment oilers, a fleet of support ships named after prominent civil rights leaders and historical justice figures. The Milk ship, commissioned in 2021, was named after one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, who was assassinated in 1978 after serving on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors.
According to the memo, the official announcement of the ship’s new name is set for June 13, and will take place aboard the USS Constitution—America’s oldest commissioned warship—symbolizing the Navy’s commitment to what Hegseth has termed “heritage and strength.”
The ship’s new name has not yet been revealed, but Military.com reports that similar changes may be on the horizon. The Navy is reportedly reviewing the names of other John Lewis-class ships, including the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and USNS Harriet Tubman—all named after iconic figures in American civil rights and justice history.
Democratic leaders have condemned the decision. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who represents much of San Francisco, issued a statement calling it “a rejection of the American tradition of honoring those who expand liberty and equality.”
“The removal of Harvey Milk’s name isn’t about ship designations,” Pelosi said. “It’s about erasing history, silencing courage, and rewriting our values.”
The Biden administration originally introduced the naming convention as part of a broader effort to reflect social progress within the military. The reversal now signals a clear cultural shift under the returning Trump administration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IRLoVOR2cc
