NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized the U.S. Navy on Friday following reports that the military branch has considered renaming an aircraft carrier currently named for a Black World War II veteran to honor President Donald Trump. Johnson described the reported discussions regarding the USS Doris Miller as a "slap in the face" to service members and war heroes.
The vessel, a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier designated as CVN-81, was named in 2020 during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor. It is the first aircraft carrier named for a Black American and the first named to honor the actions of an enlisted sailor. Doris Miller, a Messman Second Class, received the Navy Cross for his actions during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, where he assisted wounded sailors and operated an anti-aircraft gun despite having no formal training.
While the Navy has not officially confirmed the renaming, CNN reported on Thursday, citing two unnamed sources, that internal conversations had occurred regarding a name change to honor Trump. Separately, the White House announced plans in August to replace the ship’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System catapults with steam-powered versions. The White House stated this change would resolve shipbuilding issues, while some experts, including Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute, noted that steam technology is no longer in production.
The scale of the technical changes reported by the White House involves a complete overhaul of the launch systems on a multi-billion dollar Gerald R. Ford-class carrier. While the exact cost to taxpayers for the catapult reversal was not reported, it involves reverting to technology that the Navy last purchased 20 years ago. Sailors assigned to CVN-81 would notice a shift in daily operations from electronic systems to steam-powered equipment, which the White House claims will address long-term construction problems despite criticism from defense analysts regarding the use of outdated parts.
The reported discussions have drawn attention to the current living conditions of active-duty personnel. Johnson noted that these naming talks are occurring while service members face "deteriorating conditions" on vessels like the USS Abraham Lincoln. The next steps depend on whether the Navy issues an official order to change the ship's name or adheres to the 2020 designation. No specific dates for a final decision or the implementation of the catapult replacement were provided in the reports.