Is Trump Renaming the US Department of Defence to the 'Department of War'?

Washington, Sep 5 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order this Friday to change the name of the Department of Defence to the Department of War, as reported by US media referencing White House insiders.

This initiative is designed to bring back historical clarity and to underscore a combat-oriented military ethos.

The executive action aims to indicate a transition toward offensive capabilities and foster a warrior mindset within America's military.

Sources indicate that a fact-sheet from the White House regarding the forthcoming order mentions that the renaming is intended to “restore historical clarity” and reinforce a combat-first identity for the military forces.

Last month, Trump hinted at this change, telling reporters: “We refer to it as the Department of Defence, but between us, I believe we’re going to alter the name. We triumphed in World War I and World War II—it was known as the Department of War, and for me, that’s truly what it is.”

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the move, stating in a recent interview: “We won WWI and WWII, not with the Department of Defence, but with a War Department... We’re not just about defence; we’re about offence. We’re reviving the warrior ethos.”

The order will mandate Hegseth to suggest legislative measures for permanence, including immediate updates to the Pentagon’s website and signage.

On Thursday, Hegseth shared a post from Fox News on X, commenting: “DEPARTMENT OF WAR.”

The Department of War was created in 1789 to manage military responsibilities and retained that title until 1947, when the National Security Act under President Harry Truman reorganized the military, splitting the Army and Air Force and integrating them with the Navy into a unified structure.

In 1949, Congress renamed it the Department of Defence to reflect a post–World War II emphasis on national security and deterrence.

This rebranding is in line with Trump’s military reforms for a second term, although a complete legal name change would necessitate Congressional approval.

The push to rename the Pentagon follows similar actions by Hegseth to change base and ship names. He reversed a decision from the Biden administration that had eliminated Confederate-era base names like Fort Bragg and Fort Hood, reverting to those titles while officially renaming them after different individuals sharing the same names.

In June, Hegseth also initiated the renaming of a naval oiler ship previously named after gay rights activist and Navy veteran Harvey Milk.