US President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Friday that will change the name of the Department of Defence to the “Department of War,” according to reports. This move aims to bring back a more battlefield-focused identity for America’s military, emphasizing strength and a warrior spirit.
The White House says the new name is meant to “restore historical clarity” and highlight a combat-first approach for the armed forces. Trump, who first hinted at this change last month, explained, “We call it the Department of Defence, but I think it should be the Department of War. During World War I and II, it was called the Department of War. That better reflects what we are.”
Supporters, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, agree with the idea. Hegseth stated in a recent interview, “We won World War I and II with a war-focused mindset. We’re not just defending; we’re offense. We’re re-establishing that warrior ethos.”
The executive order will also direct Hegseth to work on making this change permanent through legislative steps, starting with updates to the Pentagon’s website and signs. Just yesterday, Hegseth shared a social media post calling it the “DEPARTMENT OF WAR.”
This isn’t the first time the idea of renaming or redefining military symbols has come up. The Department of War was originally created in 1789 and kept that name until 1947, when it was renamed the Department of Defence. The shift aimed to focus more on national security after World War II.
Trump’s current push to rename the department is part of broader efforts to reshape the military’s image, including renaming military bases and ships. For example, Defense officials recently reversed a decision to remove Confederate-era names from bases like Fort Bragg and Fort Hood, instead choosing to honor other notable figures with those names.
This move to rename the Pentagon’s department is still a step in the early stages. It would need approval from Congress to become official. But it signals a desire to emphasize a strong, offensive military ethos that harks back to earlier times in American history.
