A Return to Tradition: Renaming the Department of Defense
A significant name change is on the horizon for a key U.S. government department. President Trump is set to sign an executive order on Friday that will rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, reviving a historic title that was used until the aftermath of World War II.
A view of the Pentagon on Dec. 13, 2024, in Washington, D.C. President Trump has said he would like to rename the Department of Defense the Department of War. Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images
According to a White House official, the executive order will introduce “Department of War” as a “secondary title” for the Department of Defense. Furthermore, the order will allow officials to incorporate “war” into their official titles, potentially changing the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has already hinted at this transition in a social media post, stating, “DEPARTMENT OF WAR.”
President Trump, during a recent Oval Office session, expressed a preference for the older title, stating that “War Department ‘just sounded to me better.'” He appears confident in his authority to make this change unilaterally, despite potential legislative requirements. “We’re just gonna do it,” he remarked, suggesting that Congress would likely support the move if needed.
The War Department was a longstanding institution, overseeing the military until it was reorganized under President Harry Truman in 1949, uniting the Air Force, Army, and Navy under a single department as part of a broader defense strategy.
The practical implications of this name change could be substantial. An Army official recently informed Congress that merely renaming nine Army bases could cost taxpayers $39 million, signaling the potential expenses involved in updating various signs, seals, and documentation.
Danielle Kurtzleben and Quil Lawrence contributed to this report.
