Pentagon Plans Rename USNS Harvey Milk Amid Civil Rights Backlash

The U.S. Navy, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, plans to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a ship named after the pioneering gay rights activist and Navy veteran, as part of a broader effort to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military. This decision, coinciding with Pride Month, has sparked widespread condemnation from Bay Area leaders and national politicians, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who describe it as a shameful and vindictive erasure of civil rights legacies. The USNS Harvey Milk is part of the John Lewis class of ships named after notable civil rights and human rights leaders, and there is speculation that other vessels in this class may also be renamed. Hegseth's office emphasizes a return to a 'warrior ethos' that focuses on merit and rejects identity-based programs, a stance critics argue undermines the recognition of marginalized groups' contributions. Milk’s legacy as one of the first openly gay elected officials and a Navy officer who faced discrimination remains central to the backlash against the renaming. The Pentagon has yet to provide a detailed timeline or official confirmation, fueling further controversy around the administration's priorities concerning historical recognition and military values.