Official announcements from the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense

Biden Names New Gerald R. Ford-Class Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers After Presidents Clinton and Bush

Jan 13, 2025, 09:55 PM

President Joe Biden has announced that the next two Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers will be named after former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The future USS William J. Clinton (CVN 82) and USS George W. Bush (CVN 83) will honor the legacies of these two leaders. The announcement was made by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who highlighted the significant contributions of both presidents to U.S. history. President Clinton's military legacy includes successful operations such as Uphold Democracy, Deliberate Force, and Allied Force, and the largest U.S. naval deployment during the Third Taiwan Straits Crisis. Chelsea Clinton will serve as the sponsor for CVN 82. President Bush led the nation post-9/11, forming a 42-nation coalition for Operation Enduring Freedom and increasing defense spending. The carriers are set to be part of the U.S. Navy's six-ship Ford-class program, following the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).