Pelosi Fumes After Navy Removes Activist’s Name from Ship

In a move igniting fierce political debate, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Navy has stripped the name of Harvey Milk—a slain gay rights icon—from a U.S. Navy tanker and replaced it with that of World War II Medal of Honor recipient Oscar V. Peterson.

Hegseth, a Trump ally and former Fox News host, claimed the name change was part of a broader push to “depoliticize” the military. But critics say the decision is anything but apolitical—and instead a calculated swipe at LGBTQ Americans during Pride Month.

“This is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream,” said House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who stood beside Milk’s nephew, Stuart, at the original 2016 naming ceremony in San Francisco.

The USNS Harvey Milk, a fleet replenishment oiler launched under the Obama administration, was the first Navy vessel named for an openly gay American. Milk, a Navy veteran discharged during the Korean War due to his sexuality, went on to become California’s first openly gay elected official before he was assassinated in 1978.

Pelosi called the renaming “an insult to LGBTQ service members past and present” and urged the Navy to reverse course: “As the rest of us are celebrating the joy of Pride Month, it is my hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision.”

A Medal of Honor Hero, a Political Flashpoint

The newly christened USNS Oscar V. Peterson is now named after a Navy Chief Watertender who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroic action during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Though Peterson’s valor is undisputed—he closed four scalding-hot steam valves while severely burned to keep his ship afloat—Democratic lawmakers argue the Navy’s attempt to pit military heroism against LGBTQ progress is a false choice.

“There is no conflict between honoring battlefield courage and recognizing those who fought for civil rights,” said Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “Harvey Milk was a war veteran who gave his life for his community. He is not disposable.”

A Pattern of Erasure?

The renaming comes as part of what Hegseth calls a purge of “woke ideology” from the Pentagon, following the dismantling of several diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs initiated under previous administrations.

Hegseth posted the announcement on X, declaring, “We are taking the politics out of ship naming.” But critics argue it’s a hollow phrase masking a deeply political agenda.

“This is not about politics? Then why is it always LGBTQ symbols, DEI offices, and inclusive policies on the chopping block?” said Navy veteran and LGBTQ advocate Paula Neira, who attended the original naming event.

Milk’s legacy remains powerful. He served as a Navy diving officer before his discharge, and decades later, became a symbol of queer resilience and political courage. His assassination inside San Francisco City Hall by disgruntled ex-supervisor Dan White became a rallying cry for a generation of activists.

“Harvey Milk represented the promise that America could belong to all of us,” Stuart Milk, his nephew, said Friday. “This decision tries to erase that promise.”

What Comes Next?

The Navy has not indicated it will revisit the decision, despite mounting pressure. As of Friday, neither President Biden nor the Secretary of the Navy has publicly commented on the controversy.

But in San Francisco and beyond, the backlash is growing.

“Erasing Harvey Milk’s name won’t erase his impact,” Pelosi said. “But it tells millions of LGBTQ Americans that their service—and their story—don’t count. And that’s the real disgrace.”