Congress is inching toward a bipartisan agreement to reverse the Trump administration’s recent renaming of several Army bases across the southern United States that had long been politically controversial for honoring Confederate leaders.
Tucked within the National Defense Authorization Act passed by the Republican-led House last week is a measure that, if adopted by the Senate, would block Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s reversal of a separate base-renaming effort that was directed by Congress five years ago. The 2020 initiative resulted in nine Army posts originally recognizing Confederates — in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia — being re-designated to honor others, such as women, minorities, generals and a military family.
The Pentagon did away with those changes earlier this year.
The Senate’s defense policy bill, which has not come up for a vote, would overrule Hegseth only for the three bases in Virginia, though the two Democratic senators from Georgia are offering an amendment that would add the two bases in their state. The Senate could pass its bill in the coming week or skip the vote and immediately start work with the House on a compromise version, leading to final votes later this year.
Supporters of the effort hope that the names of at least some of the nine Army posts will be restored to those recommended by the bipartisan congressional commission charged with identifying all military assets, even buildings and roadways, bearing names associated with the Confederacy. Democrats and some supportive Republicans said they are cautiously optimistic.
“I think it is likely that some of the names change or change back,” said Rep. Austin Scott (R-Georgia), who served on the commission that helped rename the bases, a process that concluded in 2023.
Kingsley Wilson, the Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement that the base names “should have never been changed in the first place,” and she criticized the Biden administration for carrying out the changes recommended by the congressional panel.
“Here at the Pentagon,” Wilson added, “we honor our American history and traditions, we don’t erase it.”
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In Trump’s second term, the Pentagon under Hegseth restored the original names but changed the namesakes. Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for example, no longer refers to Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg but Pfc. Roland Bragg, a World War II paratrooper honored with the Silver Star. (The commission appointed by Congress had designated it Fort Liberty.)
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Democrats who offered the amendments to repeal Hegseth’s restoration of the nine base names said they were surprised their efforts attracted bipartisan support.
Sen. Tim Kaine (Virginia) said his measure advanced on a voice vote this summer, only possible with overwhelming agreement. And Rep. Marilyn Strickland (Washington), who led the House amendment, said she didn’t realize she had enough votes until the measure passed.
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