USNS Harvey Milk to Be Renamed

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, which is quite a significant decision. It’s not often that a ship named after a prominent figure, especially one tied to LGBTQ rights, is stripped of its namesake.

According to U.S. officials, Navy Secretary John Phelan is assembling a small team to address the renaming process, and new names are anticipated to be announced soon, possibly this month.

An anonymous source mentioned that, as of now, no new name has been finalized.

The directive was conveyed through an internal memo, defending this move as part of President Donald Trump and Hegseth’s efforts to “reestablish warrior culture” within the military.

This shift is viewed as part of a broader initiative by Hegseth and the Trump administration to eliminate various programs and discussions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion—an ironic timing since it coincides with Pride Month and comes alongside the Pentagon’s controversial campaign regarding transgender personnel.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that Hegseth is dedicated to ensuring that the naval names reflect the priorities of commanders, the nation’s history, and the essence of military service.

As for Phelan’s office, they haven’t commented on the initial report of this decision.

The USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who remarked that the name honored a leader who championed civil and human rights.

Milk, portrayed by Sean Penn in a popular film, served four years in the Navy before he was forced to live discreetly regarding his sexual orientation. He became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., advocating against discrimination based on sexual orientation, which led to significant legal changes.

The historical impact of Milk’s work was underscored when he helped pass a bill in San Francisco aimed at protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals, later signed into law.

On November 27, 1978, Milk was tragically assassinated, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, by a disgruntled ex-supervisor.

In response to the renaming, Nancy Pelosi expressed her discontent, highlighting that removing Milk’s name does not strengthen American values but rather undermines them. It’s about recognizing those who have contributed positively to American history.

California Governor Gavin Newsom joined in the condemnation, emphasizing that stripping Milk of his naval association won’t erase his legacy; it merely reflects the current administration’s stance contrary to what veterans fought for.

When the ship was dedicated in 2021, Del Toro noted it was a chance to rectify previous errors and to inspire the LGBTQ community as well as the Navy’s uniformed and civilian personnel.

The ship operates under the Military Sealift Command and has a crew of around 125 civilians. Its first supply mission took place in the fall of 2024, based in Cape Virginia, continuing to support naval vessels until maintenance was scheduled early this year in Mobile, Alabama.

While renaming ships is uncommon, the Biden administration did rename two vessels in 2023, aiming to eliminate Confederate references in military names. The USS Chancellorsville, for example, was renamed USS Robert Smalls, in honor of a sailor and former enslaved person, and USNS Morley became USNS Marietharp, recognizing a significant scientist.

Interestingly, maritime tradition suggests that renaming a ship can bring misfortune, as it is thought to anger the sea gods.