President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order that will bring back the historic name of the Department of War for the Pentagon. This change will add "Department of War" as a secondary title under the Department of Defense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will also take on the title of "Secretary of War" as part of this move.
The announcement is expected to take place on Friday, and Hegseth is already preparing legislation to formally change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. He expressed his enthusiasm about the name change on social media, simply posting “DEPARTMENT OF WAR.”
Hegseth has stated that this name change reflects a shift in military culture under the Trump administration. He emphasized the importance of fostering a warrior ethos within the military, stating, “We want warriors, folks that understand how to exact lethality on the enemy.” He criticized the current focus on defense and expressed a desire for a more offensive approach.
Trump has hinted at this name change in previous comments, indicating that he believes the term "Department of War" carries a stronger connotation. He pointed out that the original name was used when the United States won major conflicts like World War I and World War II. He believes that reverting to this name will better represent the military’s role.
The Department of Defense was originally called the Department of War when it was established by President George Washington in 1789. The name changed in 1947 when President Harry Truman reorganized the federal government.
In addition to the executive order, GOP Senator Mike Lee from Utah has announced plans to introduce legislation that would officially rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This move has sparked discussions about the implications of such a name change and what it means for the U.S. military’s identity moving forward.
