...
By Sophie Clark
Live News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is looking to rename several Navy ships which honor civil rights leaders, according to documents obtained by CBS.
These memos show Secretary Hegseth is changing the name of the USNS Harvey Milk at the beginning of Pride Month. The USNS Harvey Milk honors the memory of the gay rights campaigner who served in the Navy during the Korean War before being discharged for his sexuality.
The USNS Harvey Milk is not the only ship that the Secretary wants to rename. He is also looking to change the names of several other ships named after civil rights campaigners and leaders.
Read More on News
According to the memo this renaming is being done in "alignment with president" and "priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture."
Chief Pentagon Spokesman, Sean Parnell, said in a statement to Newsweek: "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."
Professor Alex Wagner, a former Pentagon official, told Newsweek: "These are the preoccupations of a man who finds himself without the experience, skills, or team to navigate the weighty issues demanded by the position of Secretary of Defense."
...
Why It Matters
The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which kept gay service members closeted was repealed in 2010 by President Barack Obama. The Trump administration is now reversing LGTBQ+ policy in the military by firing transgender troops and renaming a ship celebrating a gay leader. Critics argue that wiping the names of civil rights leaders from ships is disrespectful to them and redefines values America fights to protect.
What To Know
The USNS is a John Lewis-class oiler, meaning it is one of several ships named for civil rights campaigners. John Lewis was the racial justice campaigner who coined the term "good trouble."
Other Ships up for Renaming
USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211)
- Description: Named in honor of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice and a pioneering civil rights attorney.
- Military Service: Thurgood Marshall did not serve in the military. However, he played a significant role in advocating for the rights of African American service members, notably providing legal counsel during the Port Chicago mutiny trial, which highlighted racial discrimination in the military.
USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE-14)
- Description: Named after Cesar Chavez, a labor leader and civil rights activist who cofounded the United Farm Workers union.
- Military Service: Cesar Chavez served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1948, shortly after World War II. He was stationed in the Western Pacific, including assignments in Saipan and Guam.
USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE-13)
- Description: Commemorates Medgar Evers, a civil rights activist and World War II veteran assassinated by a white supremacist in 1963.
- Military Service: Medgar Evers enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 at age 17. He served in the European Theater during World War II. In the segregated 657th Port Company, he participated in the Red Ball Express, a logistics operation critical to the Allied advance at Normandy. department.va.gov
USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213)
- Description: Honors Harriet Tubman, an Underground Railroad conductor and Union spy during the Civil War.
- Military Service: During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman served as a nurse, scout, and spy for the Union Army. Notably, she led the Combahee River Raid in 1863, which resulted in the liberation of over 700 enslaved individuals. In 2024, she was posthumously awarded the rank of brigadier general in the Maryland National Guard.
USNS Dolores Huerta (T-AO 214)
- Description: Named after Dolores Huerta, a labor leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers alongside Chavez.
- Military Service: Dolores Huerta did not serve in the military. Her contributions are rooted in labor organizing and civil rights advocacy.
USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209)
- Description: Commemorates Lucy Stone, a suffragist and abolitionist who was the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree.
- Military Service: Lucy Stone did not have military service. She was a prominent advocate for women's rights and the abolition of slavery.
USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212)
- Description: Honors the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice known for her lifelong advocacy of gender equality and civil rights.
- Military Service: Ruth Bader Ginsburg did not serve in the military. However, she significantly impacted military policies through her legal work, notably contributing to the end of the military's policy of discharging women for becoming pregnant.
It is rare for a Navy ship to be renamed as the practice is considered to be taboo within the armed forces. However, two ships were renamed in 2023 as they had ties to the Confederacy. Unlike the ships that were named after people who tried to secede from the Union, these ships are being stripped of being named after people who strived to improve the rights of others within the US.
A current member of the armed forces who spoke to Newsweek on condition of anonymity, said: "It's just a bunch of changes that really aren't necessary and wastes money."
This is one of several moves from Hegseth and the Trump administration to remove mention of civil rights leaders from the military. In early April, Hegseth purged 400 books from the Naval Academy library on race relations, gender, and sexuality.
The Trump administration Defense Department has also banned affinity groups such as the Black Society for Engineers and the Native American Heritage Forum at military academies.
What People Are Saying
Chief Pentagon Spokesman, Sean Parnell, said in a statement to Newsweek: "Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete."
Professor Alex Wagner told Newsweek: "Our men and women in uniform, and their dependents and military communities, deserve a Secretary of Defense worthy of their service and sacrifice, focused on their warfighting readiness and wellbeing. It's now time for leaders from both parties in Congress to work with President Trump to identify a Defense Secretary that meets this moment."
A current member of the armed forces who spoke to Newsweek on condition of anonymity said: "I'm quite disappointed, not just because it shows the complete focus of the secretary on political matters, but it also shows their complete inability to connect with history and facts. Harvey Milk not only served in the United States Navy, but volunteered during a time of war. For the rest of his life, he dedicated himself as a public servant in California. Beyond that, the effort of renaming the ship does nothing to improve the lives of the sailors onboard."
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi: "Our military is the most powerful in the world—but this spiteful move 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.
"As the rest of us are celebrating the joy of Pride Month, it is my hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision and continue to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Harvey Milk, a Veteran himself, and all Americans who forged historic progress for our nation."
Senator Martin Heinrich on X (formerly Twitter): "Harvey Milk served his country honorably—first in uniform, then in public office. Taking his name off this Navy ship sends a clear message, and it's one of disrespect and cruelty."
What Happens Next
Pride Month will continue to be celebrated by LGBTQ+ people and allies across the world for the month of June.
Update 06/05/25, 4:00 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include original comment from Professor Alex Wagner and a member of the armed forces.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines