Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a U.S. Navy vessel to be stripped of its name. The USNS Harvey Milk is an oiler named after a San Francisco gay rights activist. In November 2021, the ship was “formally christened and launched” into service after plans were made to name a ship after Milk as early as 2016.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the oiler was named after Milk to recognize his “legacy and dedication to gay rights.” Milk acted as an activist for LGBT causes, openly advocating for those who identify as homosexual while serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and giving speeches where he insisted, “Every gay person must come out.” Many criticized the ship’s namesake, questioning whether Milk deserved such an honor.

According to Military.com, the memo ordering the name change labeled the action as a realignment to the “priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture” within the military. Reportedly, making the announcement in June, dubbed Pride Month by LGBT activists, is also intentional.

Some Democrats have expressed their disapproval over the decision. California Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi (D) called the move “spiteful,” adding it is a “shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) rebuked Hegseth, calling it a “complete and total disgrace” and an “abomination.” Jeffries also referred to Hegseth as “the least qualified secretary of Defense in American history.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted Hegseth, saying, “Erasing Harvey Milk’s name is disgusting, blatant discrimination — and during Pride Month to boot. He served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately.”

In a statement made to USA Today, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the decision, saying Hegseth “is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief’s priorities, our nation’s history, and the warrior ethos.”

Other ships’ names may be on the chopping block as well. The USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg and USNS Cesar Chavez, among others, are reportedly being considered for rechristening. Parnell noted, “Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete.”

As far as the USNS Harvey Milk goes, many are praising the decision, including Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William G. Boykin, executive vice president of Family Research Council. “Secretary Hegseth is sending a message to the entire military establishment that specific value is being put on the warrior ethos,” told the Washington Stand.

Boykin recalled his military experience, saying, “I have stood on east and west coast docks watching the christening of ships for two of my men who died in combat and had ships named for them. That is something that America can be proud of.”

Boykin expressed his gratitude at the changes being made under President Trump and Hegseth. “Our military under the last administration was headed over the cliff at a rapid pace with all of the DEI activities that were taking up time that should have been used to prepare for war. The warrior spirit is being restored by the secretary of Defense and the quality leaders in our military today. We must recognize that the world we live in has become so complex and dangerous that we must use our time wisely to ensure that our men and women of the armed services are ready when the call comes.”

“Ships and other memorials should be reserved for those who have either proven themselves in a courageous way or they have died in combat,” Boykin concluded. “[There are] no exceptions.”

Zachary Gohl serves as an intern at Family Research Council.