Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey is introducing three separate bills to stop the Trump administration from changing the name of an under-construction aircraft carrier originally designated to honor World War II Black war hero Doris Miller. Reports from Defense Department officials indicate that Navy leadership has discussed scrapping the name USS Doris Miller a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier in favor of naming the 100,000-ton warship after President Donald Trump. Booker’s legislative package aims to cut off any federal funding used to rename the vessel, ban future ship-naming decisions involving sitting presidents or vice presidents, and increase congressional oversight over how naval ships receive their names.
Historical Significance of the USS Doris Miller
The decision to name the aircraft carrier after Doris Miller was initially announced during President Trump’s first term. Miller, a Black Navy mess attendant who served aboard the USS West Virginia during the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, became an American icon after operating an antiaircraft gun without prior combat training, shooting down enemy aircraft, and rescuing wounded sailors. Because military policy restricted Black service members to non-combat roles at the time, Miller’s actions earned him the Navy Cross, making him the first Black service member to receive the honor. If commissioned under his name, the USS Doris Miller would mark the first time an aircraft carrier was named in honor of an enlisted sailor and a Black service member.
Legislative Provisions and Defense Department Authority
According to military officials, defense leaders have discussed awarding Miller a posthumous Medal of Honor as a potential justification for changing the ship’s name, as destroyers are traditionally named after Medal of Honor recipients while aircraft carriers are typically named after presidents or key naval leaders. Senator Booker strongly criticized the proposed name change, arguing that stripping Miller’s name off the warship disregards military history to elevate a sitting president. The legal authority to name Navy vessels rests with the Secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though congressional action through Booker’s proposed legislation could impose funding restrictions that halt the renaming effort.
Opinion
The proposal to rename the USS Doris Miller is a frustrating trend in modern politics: sacrificing long-standing military tradition to serve contemporary political branding.
Doris Miller’s story represents real courage under fire during a era when Black service members faced systemic discrimination within the armed forces. Naming an aircraft carrier after an enlisted sailor who took up arms at Pearl Harbor sent a powerful message about recognizing bravery across all ranks and backgrounds. Attempting to erase his name from the warship, even under the guise of transferring his legacy to a smaller vessel, diminishes the symbolic weight of the original tribute.
Navy ships should represent enduring national values and military sacrifice, not serve as personal monuments for sitting politicians. Establishing clear boundaries that prevent sitting leaders from naming major military assets after themselves helps preserve the integrity of military history and ensures that true national heroes retain the recognition they rightfully earned. We believe it’s proper to tell President Trump to stay off this one.
