Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to rename the USNS Harvey Milk is drawing ire from members of Congress.
The naval ship was named for the San Francisco gay rights icon, who served in the Navy for four years before he was discharged due to his sexual orientation.
An internal memo said the change was part of Hegseth and President Donald Trump’s mission to “re-establish a warrior culture.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who knew Milk before his assassination in 1978, is more than a bit upset at the decision and its timing, coming at the beginning of Pride Month.
“He is a warrior,” Pelosi told KNX News’ Pete Demetriou. “He was a warrior in the military. He served as an officer in the Navy. It was just a joy to see the pride that he took with his hat and gloves and all the accoutrement of his involvement.”
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Pelosi is concerned that the administration might rename the other Navy vessels that are named for civil rights icons, such as Thurgood Marshall, Dolores Huerta, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
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