Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the removal of Harvey Milk’s name from a naval ship, sparking outrage from Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Critics view the renaming as an attack on LGBTQ+ representation and civil rights progress, particularly controversial during Pride Month. What ship names could reflect the Commander-in-Chief’s priorities?
Defense Secretary Orders Name Change Amid Controversy
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Navy to remove Harvey Milk’s name from a military vessel, triggering significant backlash from Democratic leaders and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Milk, who served in the Navy during the Korean War before becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in America, had his name bestowed upon the ship in 2021 as recognition of his military service and subsequent civil rights activism.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the decision, stating: “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.” The renaming appears to be part of a broader initiative to reconsider military assets named after civil rights figures, with reports indicating ships honoring Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg may also be targeted.
Nancy Pelosi statement on Navy decision to rename USNS Harvey Milk.
“It is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream.”
Do you agree with Nancy Pelosi?
Yes or No pic.twitter.com/h3661HKzn0— A (@bluhue123) June 4, 2025
Democratic Leaders Condemn the Decision
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a strong rebuke of the renaming decision, calling it “a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American dream.” Her statement emphasized that honoring diverse historical figures strengthens rather than weakens American values and military readiness.
California Governor Gavin Newsom similarly criticized the move, stating that “stripping his name from a Navy ship won’t erase his legacy as an American icon, but it does reveal Trump’s contempt for the very values our veterans fight to protect.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized the decision as “disgusting, blatant discrimination,” particularly noting the timing during Pride Month.
Do you support Hegseth on removing Harvey Milk name from US Navy Ship?
YES or NO? pic.twitter.com/oGfmqCGqLk
— ᵖᵃʳᵒᵈʸ BARRON TRUMP (@BaronJTrump) June 4, 2025
Broader Context and Ongoing Debate
The controversy surrounding Harvey Milk extends beyond his role as a civil rights pioneer, with critics pointing to allegations about his personal relationships. Some conservatives have questioned the appropriateness of honoring Milk due to claims regarding a past relationship with a minor, while defenders note that age of consent laws were different at the time.
The renaming decision follows other recent actions by Hegseth, including the removal of nearly 400 books from the Naval Academy library under anti-DEI measures. VoteVotes, a progressive veterans activist group, condemned the ship renaming as a “deliberate insult to LGBTQ troops and Americans,” connecting it to previous Trump administration policies, including the ban on transgender people serving in the military.