U.S. Navy Considers Renaming Aircraft Carrier Under Construction
The Navy is reviewing the name of the CVN-81 carrier, originally designated USS Doris Miller, and may assign the name to another vessel while discussing alternative names, including a possible honor for President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Navy is evaluating a name change for the Ford-class carrier currently identified by its hull number CVN-81. The ship was originally slated to be named USS Doris Miller, honoring the African-American sailor who distinguished himself during the Pearl Harbor attack. Internal discussions have explored alternative names, with some sources indicating that naming the carrier after President Donald Trump has been mentioned, a move that would be unprecedented for a vessel still under construction.
According to one source, the Navy plans to assign the Doris Miller name to a different warship and is recommending Miller for the Medal of Honor, pending congressional approval and presidential endorsement. Miller’s great-nephew, Thomas Bledsoe, said the family had not been notified of the naming review but welcomed the Medal of Honor recommendation.
The Navy has stopped using the Doris Miller name internally, referring to the ship solely as CVN-81. The keel-laying ceremony, expected later this year, will be the first public milestone before the carrier’s projected delivery in 2034.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao and his office are also reviewing guidance on ship-naming criteria, including whether presidents may be honored while in office. A recent White House executive order on shipbuilding referenced the vessel only by its hull number and directed a review of its launch system.
Former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly announced the original naming in January 2020, noting Miller’s historic status as the first enlisted sailor and the first African American to have an aircraft carrier bear his name. The Navy convened a renaming commission in 2025 to examine naming policies, amid broader Pentagon efforts to revise names perceived as reflecting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is committed to ensuring military names reflect the nation’s history and the “warrior ethos.”