Getty Images

1930–1978

Latest News: U.S. Defense Secretary Orders Name Change for Harvey Milk Naval Ship

The USNS Harvey Milk tanker ship is on the verge of receiving a new name, sparking intense reactions from some political figures.

According to a Military.com report , Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the ship, which has honored the late gay rights activist and his military service since its launch in November 2021. A memorandum obtained by CBS showed that vessels named after other noteworthy figures—including Thurgood Marshall , Ruth Bader Ginsburg , Harriet Tubman , and Dolores Huerta —have also been requested for review.

The act of renaming a Navy ship is very rare and considered partially taboo. The most recent occurrence was in 202

See Full Page