Trump rebrands Department of Defense as Department of War

On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order, instructing the Department of Defense to be renamed the Department of War, a name the agency previously held in the 1940s.

According to the BBC, which obtained the order, the objective is to “project strength and resolve”. The department will initially adopt the new name as a “secondary title” pending congressional approval for a permanent change.

Although the White House has not provided a cost estimate for the rebranding effort, US media speculate that it will involve a billion-dollar expenditure to overhaul hundreds of agencies, logos, email addresses, and uniforms.

The US Department of Defense, which oversees the armed services, is the successor to the War Department, established in 1789 and dissolved in 1947.

An executive order states, ‘The name Department of War conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to Department of Defense, which emphasizes only defensive capabilities.’ Trump stated, ‘I think it’s a much more appropriate name, in light of where the world is right now,’ adding that ‘it sends a message of victory.’

The order instructs Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, henceforth known as secretary of war, to recommend legislative and executive actions for a permanent renaming.

Hegseth noted, ‘This name change is not just about renaming, it’s about restoring… words matter.’ He emphasized, ‘We’re going to go on offense, not just defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct.’ The Pentagon’s website was updated to war.gov, reflecting the department’s new name.

The responsibility of creating executive departments rests with the US Congress.
In August, Trump told reporters he was confident Congress would support the idea – if their support was needed.
Democratic Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said the renaming was a childish idea, adding: “Americans want to prevent wars, not tout them.”

The Department of War was established by George Washington, but was rebranded following World War Two.

Trump had repeatedly floated the idea of the name change, arguing that the US has an “unbelievable history of victory” in both world wars under the previous name.

Trump and Hegseth have sought to refocus the department on “warfighting” and a “warrior ethos”.

They have argued that the Pentagon has become too focused on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes and “woke ideology”.

On Thursday, Trump downplayed suggestions about seeking the Nobel Peace Prize.

“All I can do is put out wars,” he told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. “I don’t seek attention. I just want to save lives.”

The renaming of the department marks the president’s 200th executive order signed since he took office.

Although the plan was long expected, it comes on the heels of China unveiling a range of new weapons, drones and other military hardware in a massive parade that many interpreted as a clear message to the US and its allies.