By Amb Hamdi Saleh
In a bold and symbolic move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, September 5, 2025, directing the Department of Defense to adopt the “Department of War” as a secondary title, reviving a name last used in 1947. The order, signed in the Oval Office, marks a significant step in the Trump administration’s broader effort to project a more aggressive and assertive military posture, emphasizing what Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth call a return to a “warrior ethos.” While the rebranding has sparked both support and criticism, it underscores the administration’s focus on reshaping the United States’ national security identity.
The Department of War was the original name of the U.S. military’s governing body, established by President George Washington in 1789. For over 150 years, it oversaw the nation’s armed forces, guiding the country through major conflicts, including the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and both World Wars. In 1947, following World War II, President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act, which merged the Department of War with the Department of the Navy and the newly created Department of the Air Force into the National Military Establishment. This entity was officially renamed the Department of Defense in 1949, reflecting a post-war emphasis on deterrence and prevention in the emerging nuclear age.
President Trump, flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the signing ceremony, argued that the name “Department of War” better reflects the military’s core mission and historical legacy of victory. “We won the First World War, we won the Second World War, we won everything before that and in between,” Trump said. “And then we decided to go woke and changed the name to the Department of Defense. So, we’re going back to Department of War.” He emphasized that the change conveys “a message of victory, a message of strength,” particularly in light of current global tensions.
Hegseth echoed this sentiment, stating, “This name change is not just about renaming, it’s about restoring. Words matter. We’re going to go on offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. We’re going to raise up warriors, not just defenders.” The Pentagon’s website was swiftly updated to reflect the change, redirecting from defense.gov to war.gov, and signage outside Hegseth’s office now bears the new title.
While the executive order authorizes the use of “Department of War” as a secondary title in official correspondence, public communications, and ceremonial contexts, a permanent name change would require congressional approval, as the Department of Defense’s title is enshrined in federal law. The order also directs Hegseth to propose legislative and executive actions to make the renaming permanent. Trump expressed confidence that Congress, where Republicans hold slim majorities in both chambers, would support the move. “We’re just going to do it. I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that. I don’t think we even need that,” he remarked.
The rebranding is not without logistical challenges. Renaming the Pentagon and its associated agencies, including updating signage, letterheads, emblems, and digital assets worldwide, could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. For context, a 2023 estimate for renaming nine Army bases was $39 million, a process Trump reversed earlier this year. When asked about the cost, Trump downplayed concerns, stating, “We know how to rebrand without having to go crazy. We’re going to start changing the stationery as it comes due and lots of things like that.”
The move has drawn polarized reactions. Supporters, including Republican allies like Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), argue that the name “Department of War” better reflects the military’s purpose of winning conflicts. Steube is pushing legislation to formalize the change, while Scott called the U.S. military “the most lethal fighting force on the planet” and said the name reflects its “true capabilities to win wars, not just respond to them.”
Critics, however, see the rebranding as a provocative and costly gesture that contradicts Trump’s public stance as an “anti-war president.” Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) sarcastically remarked, “Trump is begging for the Nobel Peace Prize. This should cinch it for him right?” Others argue that the name change could project an overly aggressive image at a time when Trump has claimed credit for brokering ceasefires in conflicts like those between India and Pakistan and Armenia and Azerbaijan. The timing also coincides with heightened global tensions, including China’s recent display of advanced military hardware and U.S. military actions against drug cartels in the Caribbean.
The rebranding aligns with other Trump administration efforts to reshape federal institutions. Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has reversed Biden-era decisions, such as restoring Confederate-era names to military bases and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” The administration has also slashed the National Security Council and deployed National Guard troops domestically, signaling a broader transformation of the post-World War II national security framework.
The shift from “Defense” to “War” carries symbolic weight. Historians note that the 1949 renaming to Department of Defense was intended to signal a focus on preventing wars in the nuclear age, integrating military strategy with intelligence, allied policies, and domestic industrial efforts. Richard Kohn, a professor of military history at the University of North Carolina, explained, “It was clear from World War II that warfare was going to be joint and combined… fighting a war became about more than just war.” The return to “Department of War” may suggest a narrower focus on military dominance, potentially complicating the Pentagon’s role in domestic missions like border security or immigration enforcement.
For Trump and Hegseth, the name evokes a time when the U.S. military was associated with decisive victories. “We won World War I, and we won World War II, not with the Department of Defense, but with a War Department,” Hegseth said on Fox News. However, critics argue that the name could alienate allies and escalate perceptions of U.S. militarism, especially as Trump pursues diplomatic efforts to end conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The executive order marks Trump’s 200th since taking office, a milestone the administration highlighted as part of its rapid transformation of federal policy. While the “Department of War” title is already in use on Pentagon platforms and signage, its permanence depends on congressional action. Republican leaders have shown little appetite for opposing Trump’s initiatives, but Democrats and some analysts warn that the rebranding could distract from core military missions and strain budgets amid efforts to reduce Pentagon spending.
As the debate unfolds, the rebranding serves as a potent symbol of Trump’s vision for a stronger, more assertive U.S. military. Whether it will translate into lasting change or remain a provocative gesture remains to be seen. For now, the Pentagon’s new secondary title, “Department of War,” stands as a testament to the administration’s determination to leave its mark on America’s national security legacy.
