The U.S. Navy is re‑examining the name of the next Ford‑class aircraft carrier, hull number CVN‑81, which was announced during the Trump administration as USS Doris Miller in tribute to the Black sailor who distinguished himself during the Pearl Harbor attack.
Potential name change under discussion
Three sources familiar with internal deliberations told CNN that Navy leadership is weighing a change to the carrier’s name. While no final decision has been made, two sources indicated that the Navy has discussed renaming the ship to honor former President Donald Trump, a move that would be unprecedented for a vessel still under construction.
At the same time, the Navy is reportedly considering naming a different warship after Miller and is preparing a recommendation for the Medal of Honor on his behalf. The Medal of Honor recommendation would still require congressional approval and the President’s signature.
Family reaction and historical context
Thomas Bledsoe, the great‑nephew of Doris Miller, said his family has not been notified of any name change. He added that the family has been advocating for Miller’s Medal of Honor for years and described the Navy’s recommendation as “very positive.”
Miller, a native of Waco, Texas, enlisted in 1939 and served as a Mess Attendant Third Class. During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he helped his wounded commanding officer and, despite lacking formal training, operated an anti‑aircraft gun until ammunition ran out, later assisting fellow sailors to safety. He later received the Navy Cross and was killed in 1943 during the Battle of Makin.
Policy backdrop and naming guidelines
The discussion occurs amid a broader Pentagon effort, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to review military asset names that were selected under diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Hegseth has already directed the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk and has sought to replace Army base names honoring Confederate officers with names of individuals more aligned with the commander‑in‑chief’s priorities.
In 2025, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao ordered a review of the Navy’s naming guidance, which traditionally reserves aircraft carrier names for presidents, admirals, or historic battles. Former Secretary of the Navy John Phelan convened a renaming commission that recommended limiting carrier names to those categories, though his review was not completed before his departure.
Timeline and next steps
The Navy has stopped using the name USS Doris Miller in internal documents, referring to the vessel only by its hull number CVN‑81. A keel‑laying ceremony is slated for the end of 2026, and the carrier is expected to be delivered in 2034, pending shipbuilder schedules.
Secretary of Defense Hegseth’s recent executive order on shipbuilding also references the carrier solely as CVN‑81 and tasks the Secretary of the Navy with reporting on a launch‑system change from electromagnetic to steam and hydraulic systems.
While the final name decision remains pending, the Navy’s actions illustrate the ongoing tension between honoring historic military heroes and aligning ship names with current administration priorities.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
