President Joe Biden announced that the next two aircraft carriers will be named after former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
The vessels will be officially designated the USS William J. Clinton (CVN 82) and the USS George W. Bush (CVN 83). Neither has begun construction yet, but both are due to be commissioned in the mid-2030s. Biden said he told Clinton and Bush about the decision in person.
“When I personally delivered the news to Bill and George, they were deeply humbled,” he said in a statement. “Each knows firsthand the weight of the responsibilities that come with being Commander-in-Chief. And both know well our duty to support the families and loved ones who wait and worry for the safe return of their servicemember.”
Notably, President-elect Donald Trump is known for disliking both former presidents.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin praised the choice of ship names in a statement.
“The future USS William J. Clinton and the future USS George W. Bush will serve as lasting tributes to each leader’s legacy in service of the United States,” Austin said. “Like their namesakes, these two future carriers, and the crews who sail them, will work to safeguard our national security, remind us of our history, and inspire others to serve our great republic.”
The next two Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers are part of an effort to replace the aging Nimitz-class aircraft carriers — the USS Gerald R. Ford was commissioned in 2017, and the USS John F. Kennedy is scheduled to be commissioned later this year. The USS Enterprise is still under construction, while the USS Doris Miller is set to enter construction next year.
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The new Gerald R. Ford-class carriers are larger than the Nimitz-class carriers and require fewer crew members. They boast several high-tech upgrades, such as an electromagnetic catapult for launching planes, a hull that reduces drag, and increased automation. However, this comes at the hefty cost of $13 billion per ship.
Clinton and Bush will become the 11th and 12th presidents to have a nuclear aircraft carrier named after them.
