Sen. Baldwin Questions Defense Secretary on Navy Vessel Name Change
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) expressed her disappointment during a Senate Budget Defense Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday regarding the timing of a decision made by the Secretary of Defense. This decision involved renaming the Navy vessel named after Harvey Milk during Pride Month.
Baldwin highlighted the importance of addressing current global threats, specifically mentioning the need to counter adversaries like China and Iran. She urged the Secretary to actively engage in efforts that prioritize American national security.
In response, the Secretary, Hegseth, clarified that the Department of Defense is not in favor of naming ships after activists, stating, “That’s the stance we’re taking.”
Harvey Milk, who served in the Navy during the Korean War, became the first openly gay person elected to public office in California in 1977. He was tragically assassinated a year later and posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
Despite this recognition, Hegseth ordered the removal of the USNS Harvey Milk’s name, sparking protests from Democratic lawmakers and former Navy officials.
Furthermore, the names of other ships, including those honoring notable figures like John Lewis, Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as Harriet Tubman, may also be subject to renaming. This action is part of a broader initiative to dismantle military programs and references related to diversity and anti-racial or gender issues.
Baldwin, as the first openly gay candidate elected to the Senate, also pressed Hegseth about the justification behind banning transgender individuals from military service. She referred to President Trump’s Presidential Order from January 27, which cited strict service standards as a basis for the ban, arguing that inclusion threatens military readiness and cohesion. However, she noted that such debates have often marginalized groups such as people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women.
Active Duty transgender service members were recently given a 30-day deadline to either leave the military or comply with Hegseth’s directive to separate from service.
Baldwin inquired about the specific analyses the Defense Department had conducted on the potential impacts of this ban on national security. Hegseth was unable to provide immediate answers.
“The department plans to separate 1,000 transgender service members due to your partisan beliefs,” Baldwin stated, emphasizing her desire for sound policy analysis from the Secretary of Defense. “I want to understand how this decision will impact military readiness.”
In his defense, Hegseth claimed, “We did an extensive analysis,” asserting that the assessment aligned with the White House’s executive order regarding mental health issues that complicate military service, which ultimately informed their decision.
Baldwin reiterated her request for the analysis, seeking clarity for both herself and the committee. Hegseth acknowledged the request but did not commit to providing the information immediately.
