USNS Harvey Milk, named after the gay rights pioneer, is shown docked in calm waters in 2024. Reuters.
The Pentagon is moving to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a Navy ship named after the openly gay civil rights leader and military veteran. The proposed name change aligns with the Trump administration’s push to restore what officials call a “warrior culture” in the U.S. armed forces.
Military Culture Over Identity Politics
A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that the initiative is part of a wider effort to reinforce traditional military values. The renaming will require Navy Secretary John Phelan to choose a new name, pending legal clearance. Once approved, the change will be shared with top Navy officials and eventually made public.
This isn't the only ship in question. Internal documents also suggest the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg and USNS Harriet Tubman could be renamed. These vessels were originally christened in honor of progressive American figures—Ginsburg, a former Supreme Court justice, and Tubman, a key figure in the anti-slavery movement.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. Getty images
Who Was Harvey Milk?
Harvey Milk made history as the first openly gay elected official in California. His groundbreaking work on LGBTQ+ rights earned him national recognition. Milk served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors until his assassination in 1978, just 10 months after taking office.
Renaming a ship bearing his name during Pride Month has struck many as a targeted decision. The timing coincides with the LGBTQ+ community’s annual commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots, widely seen as the beginning of the modern gay rights movement.
DEI Initiatives Under Fire
The ship renaming effort follows a controversial directive issued by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The order instructed all military branches to stop using government resources for events tied to heritage or awareness months. This includes Pride Month, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month.
The memo argues that such events undermine unity and discipline in the military ranks. Instead, officials say the focus should return to shared purpose and combat readiness.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed executive orders reinforcing a binary definition of sex—male and female—and banning federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Political Fallout and Public Outrage
The decision has sparked backlash from Democratic leaders and civil rights advocates. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a sharp response, calling the renaming plan “a vindictive erasure of trailblazers who expanded the American dream for everyone.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed the sentiment, slamming Hegseth’s order on X (formerly Twitter). “He should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately,” Schumer posted.
A Broader Culture Shift
The renaming of the Harvey Milk ship reflects a larger ideological shift in federal policy. The Trump administration is actively reshaping how the government and its institutions address race, gender, and sexuality.
For many, removing Milk’s name from a Navy ship is more than symbolic. It sends a clear signal about which legacies are honored—and which are being quietly removed.
