Fact Check: Pentagon Renames U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk to Honor Medal of Honor Recipient
What We Know
On June 27, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk, a fleet replenishment ship named after the late gay rights activist and Navy veteran, would be renamed to honor Oscar V. Peterson, a World War II sailor who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his valor during combat (New York Times). The decision was framed by Hegseth as an effort to "take the politics out of ship naming," a statement that reflects a broader initiative by the Trump administration to review and potentially rename vessels associated with civil rights leaders (AP News).
The U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk was commissioned in 2021, marking it as the first Navy ship named after an openly gay individual. Harvey Milk served in the Navy during the Korean War and later became a prominent civil rights figure before his assassination in 1978 (PBS News). The renaming decision has sparked significant debate, with critics arguing that it undermines the recognition of LGBTQ+ contributions to the military and society (NPR).
Analysis
The announcement regarding the renaming of the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters of the renaming, including Hegseth, argue that honoring Oscar V. Peterson aligns with a focus on military valor and the "warrior ethos," distancing the Navy from what they perceive as politicization in ship naming (New York Times). Hegseth's background as a former military officer and his role in the Trump administration lend some credibility to his statements, although his political affiliations may introduce bias into his perspective on this issue.
Conversely, critics of the renaming, such as Jennifer Pike Bailey from the Human Rights Campaign, have condemned the decision as a politically motivated act that disregards the historical significance of figures like Harvey Milk in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights (AP News). The timing of the announcement during Pride Month has also drawn scrutiny, suggesting a deliberate attempt to shift focus away from LGBTQ+ recognition at a time when such visibility is particularly poignant.
The sources used in this analysis are reputable, including major news outlets like the New York Times, NPR, and PBS, which provide comprehensive coverage of the event and its implications. However, it is important to note that Hegseth's statements may reflect a specific political agenda, given his history as a conservative commentator and his role in the Trump administration.
Conclusion
The claim that the Pentagon has renamed the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk to honor Medal of Honor recipient Oscar V. Peterson is True. The decision was officially announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and is part of a broader initiative to reassess the names of Navy vessels. While the rationale behind the renaming is framed as an effort to remove political considerations from ship naming, it has sparked significant debate regarding the implications for LGBTQ+ representation in the military.
