Congressional Naming Commission

Congressional Naming Commission
Name	Congressional Naming Commission
Formed	2021
Dissolved	2022
Jurisdiction	United States Department of Defense
Chief1 name	Michelle Howard
Chief1 position	Chair
Chief2 name	Ty Seidule
Chief2 position	Vice Chair

Congressional Naming Commission. The commission was an eight-member panel established by the United States Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. Its primary mandate was to provide recommendations to the United States Secretary of Defense on renaming Department of Defense assets that commemorate the Confederate States of America. The commission completed its work in 2022, resulting in a landmark report that proposed renaming nine major U.S. Army installations and hundreds of other assets.

Background and establishment

The movement to remove Confederate monuments and memorials gained significant momentum following the 2015 Charleston church shooting and the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Legislative action culminated in the 2021 NDAA, which included a provision, sponsored by Senator Elizabeth Warren and others, to create the commission. The provision received bipartisan support, passing with a veto-proof majority despite opposition from then-President Donald Trump. The commission's creation reflected a broader national reckoning with the legacy of the American Civil War and the Lost Cause of the Confederacy mythology within the United States Armed Forces.

Scope and mandate

The commission's statutory authority, as defined in Section 370 of the NDAA, was specifically focused on Department of Defense assets. This included all bases, installations, streets, buildings, facilities, aircraft, and ships whose names commemorated the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederacy. The mandate explicitly excluded assets named for individuals who served in the Continental Army or later the United States Army after renouncing the Confederacy. The geographic scope was worldwide, covering all DOD property, with a particular focus on major installations like Fort Bragg and Fort Benning.

Process and methodology

Chaired by retired United States Navy Admiral Michelle Howard, with retired United States Army Brigadier General and historian Ty Seidule as vice chair, the commission conducted an extensive historical review. The process involved consulting with historians from institutions like West Point and the United States Army Center of Military History, engaging with local communities near affected bases, and soliciting public input through town halls and a dedicated website. The commission developed a set of criteria for new names, prioritizing individuals with exemplary military or public service, and considering geographic location and unit lineage.

Recommendations and outcomes

In its final report to Congress and the Secretary of Defense in September 2022, the commission recommended renaming nine major Army posts. Key recommendations included renaming Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty, Fort Benning to Fort Moore (honoring Hal Moore and Julia Moore), Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos (honoring Richard E. Cavazos), and Fort A.P. Hill to Fort Walker (honoring Mary Edwards Walker). The report also listed over 750 other assets for renaming, including two Navy ships. The Biden administration fully endorsed the recommendations, and the DOD began implementation.

Public and political reaction

Reaction was deeply polarized. The recommendations were praised by many lawmakers, including Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, and veterans' groups like the Military Officers Association of America. However, they faced strong criticism from some conservative politicians, such as Senator Tom Cotton and Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp, who argued the changes erased history. Public opinion polls, including those by Pew Research Center, showed a sharp partisan divide. The process sparked renewed debate about historical memory, with parallel discussions occurring regarding names on facilities like the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Legacy and impact

The commission's work represents one of the most systematic efforts to decouple the United States military from symbols of the Confederacy. Its impact extends beyond the physical name changes, influencing ongoing reviews of naming policies within the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force. The process set a precedent for confronting historical legacies within the armed forces, similar to earlier efforts regarding the Buffalo Soldier monuments. The renamed installations now honor a more diverse array of American heroes, from Medal of Honor recipients like Alvin York to pioneers like Harriet Tubman.

Category:2021 establishments in the United States Category:2022 disestablishments in the United States Category:Advisory commissions of the United States Congress Category:American Civil War commemorations