It's beginning to seem like nothing can stop the political correctness storm in America.
This, if it was such a problem why did they not reject the patent years ago?
Because this entire discussion is BS and a political agenda.
If the government cares so much about what is offensive to the Native Americans... GIVE THEM THEIR DANG LAND BACK.
Until then, the government should shut up in the corner or go reject.
They did reject the patent years ago. Washington then appealed that decision, and that decision was tossed out not because it was wrong, but because of a legal technicality called "standing". Basically, a higher court said that the name might be racist (and therefore ineligible to be trademarked), but the guys who sued were too old to claim damages. So the entire suit had to be restarted with a younger set of plaintiffs.
Edit: the first suit was filed in 1992, and was decided in 1999. So not just years ago, but decades ago.