Pete Hegseth renames USNS Harvey Milk to USNS Oscar V. Peterson

Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump, has announced the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk. Vowing to “take the politics out of ship naming”, Hegseth criticized the trend of naming US Navy ships after political activists. Harvey Milk was notable for being the first openly gay politician to be elected to public office, with him becoming a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. 

The ship, which is a fleet replenishment oiler, will now be named the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. As Pete Hegseth explained in his announcement, Oscar Peterson was a World War 2 soldier who served on the USS Neosho and died in battle against Japanese forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. 

Pete Hegseth said USNS Harvey Milk name was a political statement

I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson.

We are taking the politics out of ship naming. pic.twitter.com/2ypwAQGdAl

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) June 27, 2025

  

Stating his belief that naming the ship USNS Harvey Milk during the Obama administration had been a politically motivated exercise, Pete Hegseth claimed that renaming the ship to USNS Oscar V. Peterson was an effort at making the entire process apolitical. He stated that “people want to be proud of the ship they’re sailing in”, and that honoring Oscar V. Peterson’s sacrifice would bring about that pride. 

As Hegseth noted, Oscar V. Peterson was posthumously rewarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his sacrifice. Despite his claims of removing political bias from the ship naming process, however, his decision drew sharp reactions from his detractors and political opponents, with many Democratic politicians characterizing his announcement as a deliberate attempt at erasing Harvey Milk’s legacy. 

Democratic lawmakers have slammed Pete Hegseth’s decision

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… pic.twitter.com/qc6pGh9chE

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 3, 2025

Pete Hegseth had first revealed his intention to rename USNS Harvey Milk earlier this month on June 3, prior to today’s formal announcement. Democrat lawmakers were quick to announce their disapproval in response. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said that “Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately”. 

Nancy Pelosi called Pete Hegseth’s plan "a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American dream.” She also accused Hegseth of being spiteful, and said that his decision would do nothing to strengthen America’s national security interests. 

Sean Penn, who’d portrayed Harvey Milk in the 2008 biopic "Milk", has also mocked Pete Hegseth’s decision by claiming that the Secretary of Defence had demoted himself to the rank of “Chief PETTY officer”.

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