Trump and Hegseth Push Navy Ship Renaming \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the U.S. Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, removing the name of a pioneering gay rights leader. The move, framed as restoring “warrior culture,” comes during Pride Month and amid broader anti-DEI efforts under President Trump. A new name for the ship is expected soon, though not yet announced.
Quick Looks
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders rare ship renaming.
- Navy ship to lose name honoring Harvey Milk.
- New name expected this month, not yet chosen.
- Move aligns with Trump’s push to end DEI programs.
- Internal memo cites return to “warrior culture.”
- Decision surfaces during LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
- Harvey Milk served in Navy, later assassinated.
- Ship named in 2016, christened in 2021.
- Biden admin previously renamed Confederate-linked ships in 2023.
- Maritime lore warns renaming ships brings bad luck.
- Navy Secretary Phelan convened small renaming team.
- Critics see move as politically and culturally charged.
Deep Look
In a rare and politically charged decision, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the U.S. Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a replenishment oiler that honors the legacy of the slain gay rights activist and former Navy sailor. This unprecedented action, confirmed by U.S. officials under anonymity, aligns with President Donald Trump’s directive to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the military and government institutions.
The decision, which surfaced during Pride Month, is stirring significant backlash from civil rights advocates and LGBTQ+ military supporters. According to internal communications reviewed by officials, the Navy intends to rename the ship to better reflect what Trump and Hegseth describe as a return to “warrior culture.” A new name is expected later this month, but as of now, has not been publicly selected.
The USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus as part of an initiative to name John Lewis-class oilers after civil and human rights leaders. Harvey Milk, a Navy veteran forced out of service during the Korean War due to his sexual orientation, went on to become one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. His work on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors included championing a groundbreaking ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Just months after the law passed, Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978.
Milk’s legacy was honored again in 2021 during the ship’s christening, where then-Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro emphasized the importance of recognizing LGBTQ+ contributions to the military. He described the ceremony as a moment to “amend the wrongs of the past” and reaffirm the Navy’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
However, the current Trump-aligned Pentagon leadership under Hegseth is taking a starkly different approach. The renaming is part of a broader campaign to eliminate what they view as “politicized” programs and messaging within the military. This includes banning DEI training, removing references to LGBTQ+ history from official military materials, and recently launching a renewed effort to bar transgender troops from service.
Navy Secretary John Phelan has reportedly formed a small team to oversee the renaming process, which is typically considered both rare and controversial. Maritime tradition holds that renaming a ship invites bad luck or the wrath of sea gods—a superstition that has long influenced naval culture.
Despite the tradition, the Biden administration also implemented two naval ship renamings in 2023—though with very different motivations. The USS Chancellorsville, originally named for a Confederate Civil War battle, was renamed the USS Robert Smalls after a formerly enslaved sailor who commandeered a Confederate ship and later became a U.S. Congressman. Similarly, the USNS Maury, named for a Confederate oceanographer, was changed to USNS Marie Tharp, honoring a pioneering female scientist.
The USNS Harvey Milk, currently operated by the Military Sealift Command with a civilian crew of around 125, began active resupply missions in fall 2024 and has since completed several at-sea operations off the East Coast. The ship is now undergoing maintenance at Alabama Shipyard in Mobile.
Public and political reactions to the renaming order have been swift. LGBTQ+ military advocates argue that removing Milk’s name sends a regressive signal, especially during a month meant to honor equality and inclusion. Critics say it represents an ongoing erasure of diverse identities from public institutions. Meanwhile, the Trump-aligned Pentagon views the move as a restoration of military tradition and cultural discipline.
The Navy has not officially commented on the decision, and the Pentagon remains silent on the broader strategy’s long-term impacts on recruitment, morale, and public perception.
In a climate of increasing polarization, the fate of the USNS Harvey Milk now becomes more than a question of maritime naming conventions—it is a symbol of competing visions for America’s military identity in the 21st century.
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