WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The U.S. Navy is moving forward with plans to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a fleet replenishment oiler named after the late gay rights activist and Navy veteran, according to documents obtained by CBS News. The Navy is also considering renaming multiple other ships named for prominent civil rights leaders and influential American voices.
The internal Navy documents, used to brief Navy Secretary John Phelan and his chief of staff, outline a timeline for announcing the name change of the USNS Harvey Milk, although they do not specify what the ship’s new name will be. The proposed renaming comes during Pride Month — a significant period for the LGBTQ+ community that also marks the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising. This year, Washington, D.C., is hosting WorldPride celebrations.
The Navy’s “recommended list” of vessels proposed for renaming also includes the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Harriet Tubman, USNS Dolores Huerta, USNS Lucy Stone, USNS Cesar Chavez, and USNS Medgar Evers — all named after prominent civil rights and social justice leaders.
The move has sparked significant political backlash. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the plan “a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers,” arguing that it undermines core American values and the military’s ethos. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the effort as “an utter abomination” tied to an ongoing political agenda, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reverse the decision immediately.
Since his confirmation in January, Secretary Hegseth has issued directives to end official Pentagon recognition of heritage and awareness months such as Pride Month, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month, citing concerns these observances could divide service members. The renaming initiative is said to align with the Trump administration’s priorities of “reestablishing the warrior culture,” according to the Navy documents, which bear a “CAUTION” notice marking the information as publicly sensitive.
The USNS Harvey Milk, part of the John Lewis-class replenishment oilers named after civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis, was christened in 2021. It represents an important symbol of inclusivity within the military. Harvey Milk himself was a pioneering political figure in LGBTQ+ history, becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. in 1977. Before his activism, Milk served as a Navy operations and dive officer aboard submarine rescue ships during the Korean War. However, his sexual orientation led to a discharge under dishonorable conditions in 1954 — a painful chapter reflecting the military’s past treatment of LGBTQ+ service members.
The renaming plans come after Secretary Hegseth earlier reversed two base renamings aimed at removing Confederate names, reinstating Fort Bragg and Fort Benning to replace Fort Liberty and Fort Moore, respectively. The Navy has also renamed other ships previously honoring Confederate figures, such as the USNS Maury, now the USNS Marie Tharp, named after a pioneering oceanographer.
While ship renamings are rare, especially after commissioning, the Navy’s efforts reflect a broader cultural and political shift regarding military symbols and their meaning.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that Hegseth is “committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets reflect the Commander-in-Chief’s priorities, our nation’s history, and the warrior ethos,” with official announcements to follow after legal reviews.
