Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing back against wokeness in the U.S. military by calling for the removal of LGBT activist Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy vessel, with press accounts confirming that several other ships are also potentially going to be renamed for similar reasons.
For context, a press release published on June 3, 2025, by Military.com reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had ordered the Navy to rename a ship that bears the name of a noted gay rights activist, clarifying that Hegseth intentionally slated the renaming of the vessel to occur during June, which is celebrated as Pride month by many.
According to a memo obtained by Military.com, Secretary Hegseth said that the decision to rename the ship was based on pursuing “alignment with president and SECDEF objectives and SECNAV priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture.” In addition, it was confirmed based on the memo that the Harvey Milk is a John Lewis-class oiler, a group of ships that are all reportedly named after civil rights leaders and activists.
In response to the news, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Secretary Hegseth’s decision in a press release, saying, ““As the rest of us are celebrating the joy of Pride Month, it is my hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision and continue to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Harvey Milk, a Veteran himself, and all Americans who forged historic progress for our nation.”
In addition, Pelosi defended Harvey Milk’s legacy, saying that he “proudly served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and was a formidable force for change – not just in California, but in our Country.” She added, “While he is remembered for his LGBTQ+ advocacy, Harvey fought for the dignity and worth of every person.”
Moreover, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) also criticized the proposed renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk in a post on X, saying, “Harvey Milk was a veteran, a dedicated public servant, and an LGBTQ trailblazer.” He continued, “He showed courage and grit in just about everything he did. Despite Trump’s best efforts, the president will never tarnish that legacy.”
On the other hand, many conservatives and Christians backed the decision to rename the ship based on the fact that Harvey Milk was in a relationship with a 16-year-old named Jack Galen McKinley when Milk was 33, which some have said tarnished his legacy. One historian noted a pattern in Milk’s relationships throughout his life, saying that he sought out “the just legal boy he could act as both a lover and father figure to.”
In addition, Secretary Hegseth has reportedly considered renaming all of the U.S. Navy vessels named after activists and civil rights leaders, including the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Harriet Tubman, USNS Dolores Huerta, USNS Lucy Stone, USNS Cesar Chavez, and USNS Medgar Evers.
Featured image credit: Secretary Pete Hegseth via X