Defense Secretary Hegseth Orders Removal of Harvey Milk's Name from Navy Ship

WASHINGTON D.C. – In a move sparking significant controversy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly ordered the U.S. Navy to strip the name of gay rights icon and Navy veteran Harvey Milk from a replenishment oiler, the USNS Harvey Milk. 

This decision, coming during Pride Month, is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to "re-establish the warrior culture" and reverse what they term a "woke" military.

The USNS Harvey Milk, a John Lewis-class ship named in 2016 to honor civil and human rights leaders, has been in service for the past two years. 

Harvey Milk, who served in the Navy during the Korean War before being forced out for being gay, later became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors until his assassination in 1978.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued a brief statement affirming that Secretary Hegseth is "committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief's priorities, our nation's history, and the warrior ethos." Critics, however, are questioning how honoring a Navy veteran and civil rights advocate undermines a "warrior ethos."

The renaming of a Navy ship is a highly unusual and traditionally considered taboo act. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes San Francisco, decried the decision as "shameful, vindictive erasure" and argued it "does not strengthen our national security or the 'warrior' ethos. Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country."

This order comes amidst a flurry of directives from Secretary Hegseth aimed at reshaping military culture. These actions have included reviewing and potentially renaming other ships in the John Lewis-class, which are named after prominent civil rights leaders and distinguished women like Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Harriet Tubman. The administration has also been reportedly moving to eliminate or restructure courses at military academies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has ordered that race, gender, and ethnicity no longer be considered in admissions processes.

While a new name for the USNS Harvey Milk has not yet been announced, officials indicate that Navy Secretary John Phelan has been tasked with selecting a replacement name, with an announcement expected soon. The move is seen by many as a clear signal of the administration's direction for the U.S. military, prioritizing a narrow interpretation of military readiness over broader principles of diversity and inclusion.

The Attempt to Erase History Continues by the Trump Administration

During his presidency, Donald Trump has taken steps to rename a few significant geographical features and government entities.

Most notably, upon his return to the presidency in 2025, he signed an executive order to rename:

Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America": This change applies to U.S. federal agencies and official documents. It has been met with mixed reactions, with some supporting it as an "America First" initiative, while other countries like Mexico have stated they will not recognize the change.

Denali to "Mount McKinley": This restores the name of North America's highest peak to Mount McKinley, reversing the 2015 decision by the Obama administration to officially recognize the traditional Native Alaskan name, Denali.

Beyond these prominent geographical changes, during his previous term (2017-2021) and current term, his administration also made some smaller name changes within government agencies and policies, often reflecting shifts in policy or ideology. Examples include:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (BCFP).

President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) to President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN).

Renaming of some environmental groups to remove terms like "clean energy" and "climate," such as changing "Sustainable Transport and Climate Change Team" to "Sustainable Transportation and Resilience Team."

He also advocated for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to be replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

It's important to note that while executive orders can direct U.S. federal agencies to use new names, the broader adoption of these names by state governments, the private sector, and international entities varies and is not always guaranteed.