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President Biden has announced the next two Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers will be named after former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Some shit you should know before you read: The authority to name US Navy ships resides with the Secretary of the Navy, who is responsible for selecting names in alignment with naval traditions and historical significance. While the White House may publicly announce naming decisions, as in the case of the USS William J. Clinton and USS George W. Bush, the ultimate responsibility and decision-making power lies solely with the Navy Secretary.  

Bush Clinton Presidents

What’s going on: President Biden announced that the next two Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, the future USS William J. Clinton (CVN-82) and USS George W. Bush (CVN-83), will honor the legacies of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. These carriers, part of the Ford-class—the Navy’s first new aircraft carrier class in over 40 years—will serve as state-of-the-art replacements for the aging Nimitz-class ships.

Construction on the ships have not yet begun, and contracts are still pending, with industry experts estimating the USS William J. Clinton could be purchased as early as Fiscal Year 2028. Once completed, these multi-billion-dollar vessels will have the Navy’s most advanced technological capabilities and serve as key components of US naval strength for decades to come.

Reactions: In a statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said,The Department of Defense is honored by the Navy’s naming of two future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers as the future USS William J. Clinton (CVN 82) and the future USS George W. Bush (CVN 83), as announced today by President Biden.He added,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. 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.

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