Two out members of Congress, Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), both recently grilled Navy Secretary John Phelan and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, respectively, over the administrations recent orders to the Navy toremove Harvey Milks name from a shipduring Pride Month. Their grilling coincides with the sending of a letter to Hegseth on Wednesday, signed by 70 Democrat House members, asking him to rescind his cruel, unnecessary decision to rename the ship.Sorensen questioned Phelan during a Wednesday hearing of the House Armed Services Committee, noting that Milk served in the Navy but was forced to resign over his homosexuality. Sorensen then asked Phelan, Why does this administration no longer believe in honoring Mr. Harvey Milks service to our nation? Related DeSantis drops LGBTQ and Latin people from remarks on Pulse anniversary The callous omission comes as survivors and families visit the site before demolition. Phelan said that Hegseth wants all military installations to reflect the presidents priorities, U.S. history, and the warrior ethos, Advocate reported. Phelan said no final decisions had been made regarding the renaming of vessels, pending a final review. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today When Sorensen asked whether Phelan could tell Hegseth that the government should honor all veterans, Phelan said he believed that the government does. The administration is planning to cut 80,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs, something critics say is already hurting veterans. As the only elected LGBTQ person on this committee and the first ever from my home state, I speak for my neighbors and all Americans when I say that Navy veteran Harvey Milk was a warrior in Korea before becoming an elected leader, Sorensen said. I walk in the footsteps of leaders before me. He stood up for the same people who are being targeted, persecuted, and vilified by this administration today. My grandpa taught me to stand up for every veteran and thank them every time I see them, thank them for their service. But picking and choosing who deserves that thanks its not just wrong, it is un-American.In a recent Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing, Baldwin told Hegseth, I think we can all agree that we are at a critical point in our history with respect to global threats, the need to counter adversaries like China and Iran and Im disappointed that you are instead focusing on a class of ships named for civil rights leaders, The Hill reported.Baldwin was referencing Hegseths directive ordering Phelan to rename several new ships named after Milk and other civil rights icons, includingsuffragist Lucy Stone, abolitionist Sojourner Truth, racial justice champion John Lewis, Latina labor activist Dolores Huerta, womens rights suffragette Lucy Stone, Latino civil rights organizer Cesar Chavez, and Black soldier and civil rights activist Medgar Evers.Hegseth said that the Defense Department is not interested in naming ships after activists, adding, Thats the stance were taking.Baldwin also asked Hegseth about any specific assessments the Defense Department conducted beforehand to assess the national security impact of the presidents recent ban on transgender military members. Hegseth couldnt name any such assessment but said he agreed with the presidents belief that mental health issues associated with gender dysphoria that complicate military service and readiness. This belief has been knocked down as discriminatory and untrue in federal court. On Wednesday, 70 Democratic House members senta letterto Hegseth telling him to rescind his decision to rename Milks ship.The Navys records show that Milk was considered very good officer material, and his battalion commander wrote that Milk was a good leader and outstanding,' the letter states. Milks courage inspired countless Americans to confront bigotry and hate against LGBTQI+ people. Naming the USNS Harvey Milk pays tribute to an American who dedicated and gave his life to serving our country in uniform and in public office. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website even recognizes that Milks life and legacy exemplified the Navys core values of honor, courage, and commitment. Ordering this renaming and intentionally timing this announcement to coincide with Pride Month is a cruel insult to tens of thousands of LGBTQI+ individuals currently serving in our nations military and the nearly one million LGBTQI+ Veterans across the country, the letter adds. Combined with your harmful decision to remove transgender service members from the military, your order is just the latest slap in the face to service members and Veterans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and sends the wrong signal that their service is not valued. The letter calls the renaming a waste of valuable time and resources that does nothing to reestablish the warrior culture or make America more safe and secure, adding, It is actions like these that set a harmful and irresponsible precedent of politicizing our military and our Veterans.The letter was signed by out House members, including Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), and Rep. Sorensen (D-IL).Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.