LESS WOKE, MORE LETHAL: Military Hits Major Milestones Under Trump And Hegseth

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump have both promised to foster and lead a United States Military that is less woke and more lethal than it has been in recent years, and reports published on Tuesday indicated that they have been hard at work on both fronts.

Military.com reported on Tuesday that Hegseth had ordered the U.S. Navy to strip the name of Harvey Milk from an oiler class ship. The ship was named for Milk, a gay rights activist, in 2016 by former President Barack Obama’s Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

Hegseth Orders Navy to Strip Name of Gay Rights Icon Harvey Milk from Ship https://t.co/qPM9uoz6mu

— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) June 3, 2025

According to that report, a Defense Department official also confirmed that the timing of Hegseth’s order — just days into PRIDE Month — had been intentional.

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) lashed out at Hegseth over the move, saying, “Erasing Harvey Milk’s name is disgusting, blatant discrimination—and during Pride Month to boot. He served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately.”

Erasing Harvey Milk’s name is disgusting, blatant discrimination—and during Pride Month to boot.

He served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.

Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse… pic.twitter.com/qc6pGh9chE

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 3, 2025

On the same day that the news broke regarding Milk, the U.S. Army announced that it had already surpassed recruiting goals for the entire year, four full months ahead of schedule.

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The U.S. Army has met its 2025 recruiting goal FOUR MONTHS EARLY…

This is what happens when we have STRONG leadership at the top. pic.twitter.com/Uykifax2pP

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 3, 2025

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll responded to the news in a statement, saying, “Today the U.S. Army met our FY25 recruiting goals a whole four months ahead of schedule. I want to thank the Commander in Chief, President Trump, and Secretary of Defense Hegseth for their decisive leadership and support which helped make this feat possible. I’m also extremely proud of the recruiters, leaders, and other advocates who helped us smash this goal. America’s young women and men are proud of our country and want to serve in the U.S. Army and the results speak for themselves.”

While the U.S. Army has met its retention goals for the last seven years, 2025 marks just the second year in a row that it also met recruitment goals for new enlistees.