Trump Proposes Renaming Department of Defense to ‘Department of War’
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the ‘Department of War’, citing the need to project strength and signal a will to win conflicts. The move aligns with his broader plan to address what he calls ‘woke ideology’ within the military and is part of a historical change, as the department was originally named the Department of War until 1947 when it was rebranded under President Harry Truman as part of post-World War II reorganization.
The executive order was announced by the White House on Friday, with Trump stating that the new name ‘ensures peace through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice, not just to defend,’ according to the order.
The president’s rhetoric around the change emphasizes a message of dominance and readiness to engage in conflict. “I think it sends a message of victory,” Trump said in the Oval Office, signaling a shift in strategic messaging.
However, the Department of Defense’s renaming does not immediately take effect, as Congress must approve the change. Until then, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been authorized to be referred to as the secretary of war as his “additional secondary title.” The Pentagon’s website has been updated to war.gov, and office signs have been modified to reflect the new designation.
Meanwhile, Pentagon spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson hailed the change as a “historic move,” stating that “Defense alone is not enough; we must be ready to strike and dominate,” supporting the administration’s position that the new name better aligns with military priorities and the nation’s security objectives.
Analysts and political observers have noted that the renaming is part of a broader effort to reshape the military’s institutional identity amid a larger ideological and strategic shift within the Trump administration. The move has also been interpreted as an attempt to emphasize a more aggressive posture toward potential global threats.