Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order to rename the USNS Harvey Milk has ignited a firestorm of controversy. The U.S. Navy ship, honoring San Francisco’s iconic gay rights activist, faces a name change to reflect a new “warrior culture” push.
Fox News reported that Hegseth directed Navy Secretary John Phelan to strip the ship of its name, as confirmed by a Military Times report on a Navy memorandum. The decision, aligning with the president’s priorities, aims to reshape the Department of Defense’s cultural identity. Pride Month’s timing adds fuel to the debate.
The USNS Harvey Milk, named in 2016 under the Obama administration, celebrated its maiden voyage in San Francisco in 2024.
Harvey Milk, a Navy veteran and one of America’s first openly gay elected officials, became a symbol of civil rights progress. However, Hegseth's move is a direct repudiation of the glorification of leftist activist icons that have become embedded in American culture.
A defense official emphasized the renaming’s intentional Pride Month announcement, signaling a clear break from progressive symbolism. The Navy’s memo cites a need to reestablish a “warrior ethos” in line with Hegseth’s vision. Sounds like the Pentagon’s trading rainbows for battle axes.
Harvey Milk enlisted in the Navy in 1951 but resigned in 1955 after facing scrutiny over his sexual orientation.
His later activism in San Francisco cemented his status as a trailblazer, per the Harvey Milk Foundation. Erasing his name from a Navy ship doesn’t exactly scream gratitude for service.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the move, stating, “Names attached to DOD assets must reflect the Commander-in-Chief’s priorities.” He hinted at more renamings pending internal reviews. The vagueness leaves room for speculation—will other ships face the same fate?
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., didn’t mince words, calling the renaming a “shameful, vindictive erasure.”
She argued it dishonors those who fought for equality. Her outrage is predictable, but does it miss the broader cultural realignment at play?
Pelosi also pleaded, “I hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision.” Her appeal leans heavily on Pride Month’s celebratory vibe, framing the renaming as a buzzkill. Yet, the Navy seems more focused on forging warriors than soothing sentiments.
“This spiteful move … is a surrender of a fundamental American value,” Pelosi added, accusing the Pentagon of abandoning Milk’s legacy. Her rhetoric paints a stark picture, but legacy isn’t a synonym for untouchable. Actions, as they say, have consequences.
Fox News Digital’s inquiries to the Department of Defense and the Navy went unanswered, leaving questions lingering. Parnell’s non-denial suggests the renaming is a done deal, with more changes possibly on the horizon. The Pentagon’s tight-lipped approach only amplifies the controversy.
The ship’s 2016 naming was a nod to inclusivity, reflecting the Obama-era push for diversity in military honors. Milk’s election to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977 broke barriers, making him a fitting choice at the time. Now, the pendulum swings back toward tradition.
The Navy’s “warrior culture” agenda, as outlined in the memo, prioritizes combat readiness over symbolic gestures. Renaming a ship isn’t just bureaucratic housekeeping—it’s a statement of values. Critics like Pelosi see it as regressive; supporters might call it a return to roots.
Announcing the renaming during Pride Month wasn’t accidental, per the defense official. It’s a calculated move to underscore the shift away from progressive ideals. The timing feels like a jab, but perhaps it’s just the Navy owning its new direction.
The debate over the USNS Harvey Milk’s renaming boils down to clashing visions of America’s military identity. Hegseth’s push for a warrior-centric Navy challenges the inclusive ethos Milk represented. As more renamings loom, expect the culture wars to rage on.
