President Donald Trump plans to rebrand the U.S. Department of Defense as the “Department of War” to project a stronger image of military strength. Although a formal name change requires congressional approval, Trump will sign an executive order permitting the Pentagon to use “Department of War” as a secondary title, allowing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to refer to himself as “Secretary of War” in official capacities.
The Department of War was originally established in 1789 but was renamed the Department of Defense in 1947 to underscore a focus on peacekeeping during the nuclear era. Trump criticized the current name as politically motivated and believes reverting to the original title symbolizes a more proactive national security approach. Hegseth, a long-time supporter of the initiative, has indicated this change on social media and has been active in promoting broader cultural shifts within the military, including rolling back diversity programs, leading to public backlash.
Critics view the rebranding as an unnecessary distraction that could divert resources from military families and diplomatic efforts. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth expressed concerns about shifting the institution’s identity for political reasons. The initiative aligns with Trump and Hegseth’s broader agenda of promoting a more aggressive military posture and reshaping Pentagon leadership seen as ideologically opposed to their views. This includes controversial policies, such as barring transgender individuals from military service, which have drawn criticism from civil rights advocates.
While the executive order allows for the “Department of War” title, a complete renaming would necessitate extensive updates to military installations and ultimately require congressional consent.
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