WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to rebrand the Pentagon by directing the Department of Defense to adopt a new title: the “Department of War.” He describes the move as part of an effort to project greater “strength and resolve” on the global stage.
An executive order, set to be signed Friday, instructs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use “Secretary of War” as an alternative title and authorizes the military bureaucracy to adopt the new branding across official communications.
Although Congress alone has the authority to formally rename cabinet-level agencies, Trump’s order tells the Pentagon to begin incorporating the term and to prepare legislative proposals that could make the change permanent.
“The name ‘Department of War’ conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to ‘Department of Defense,’ which emphasizes only defensive capabilities,” the order states.
The War Department was first created in 1789 under President George Washington and remained in place until 1947, when it was replaced by the Department of Defense after World War II. Trump has repeatedly argued that the US military’s “history of victory” was forged under that earlier name.
Administration officials say the move is part of a broader effort to emphasize “warfighting” and a “warrior ethos” within the Pentagon — a shift critics warn will further politicize the military and undermine efforts at reform. The White House has not disclosed the costs of such a rebrand, though analysts say changing emblems, signage, uniforms, and bureaucratic systems could cost billions.
Trump brushed aside legal and financial concerns, telling reporters last week he expected Congress to support the change: “I don’t even think we need that. But, if we need that, I’m sure Congress will go along.”
The move comes as China showcased new drones, missiles, and other military hardware in Beijing, a display widely interpreted as a direct signal to Washington.
The executive order marks the 200th of Trump’s presidency and underscores his determination to reframe America’s global posture not in terms of defense, but of readiness to wage war.
