I guess it could have been worse. >President Joe Biden said that the next two Ford-class aircraft carriers will be named after former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, according to a Monday White House statement. >Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro picked the names for the two carriers, as naming falls under the duties of the secretary of the Navy, according to two Navy officials However, the White House made the announcement. >“When I personally delivered the news to Bill and George, they were deeply humbled. Each knows firsthand the weight of the responsibilities that come with being Commander-in-Chief,” Biden said in the White House announcement. “And both know well our duty to support the families and loved ones who wait and worry for the safe return of their servicemember.” >The future USS William J. Clinton (CVN-82) and USS George W. Bush (CVN-83) are not yet under construction nor have contracts been issued to carrier yard HII’s Newport News. >HII has advocated for the Navy to utilize a block buy contracting strategy to purchase the carriers, like the service did for the future USS Enterprise (CVN-80) and USS Doris Miller (CVN-81). In a briefing with reporters last week, HII president Chris Kastner said the shipbuilder would like to see CVN-82 purchased in Fiscal Year 2028. >“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,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a news release. “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 naming of the two aircraft carriers comes on the heels of Del Toro’s announcement naming the third Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine. The vessel will be named for the home of submarine builder General Dynamics Electric Boat, the Navy announced on Monday. . . [Source](https://news.usni.org/2025/01/13/white-house-next-two-aircraft-carriers-named-for-bill-clinton-george-w-bush)