Trump to rebrand Department of Defense as 'Department of War'

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order that will rebrand the Department of Defense as the "Department of War."

The move, which is part of a broader "warrior ethos" campaign, has sparked a debate over symbolism, executive authority, and the cost of the change.

Rebranding and Rationale

The White House announced that Trump will sign an executive order on Friday, September 5, that will allow the Pentagon to use the "Department of War" as a secondary title.

This executive action is an attempt to circumvent the need for congressional approval, which would be required for a formal name change of a federal agency. Under the order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will also be authorized to use the title "Secretary of War."

The administration has repeatedly stated that the name change is meant to project a more powerful and aggressive image to the world.

Both President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have argued that the original name of the department, which was used until 1949, was a symbol of American military victory. Trump stated, "Everybody likes that we had an unbelievable history of victory when it was Department of War. Then we changed it to Department of Defense." Hegseth echoed this sentiment, saying, "We're not just defense, we're offense. We think words and names and titles matter."

Historical Context and Criticism

The Department of War was the nation's primary military authority until 1949, when Congress renamed it the Department of Defense as part of sweeping postwar reforms aimed at consolidating military branches and signaling a focus on peace.

The rebranding effort has drawn strong criticism. Brad Bowman, a senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, argued that the money spent on updating signage, stationery, and websites would be better used to ensure service members have the necessary training and weapons. The cost of a full name change could be in the tens of millions of dollars. Critics also argue that the move runs counter to Trump's self-professed image as an anti-war president and that it is an unnecessary distraction for the Pentagon.

Political Implications

The executive order is the latest in a series of initiatives by Secretary Hegseth and the Trump administration to reverse previous policies, including an effort to restore Confederate-era names to military bases.

While the order directs Hegseth to propose legislative steps to make the name change permanent, it remains unclear whether Congress will approve the change. When asked about the need for congressional approval, Trump reportedly said, "We're just going to do it. I'm sure Congress will go along if we need that."