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Arguing that ‘defence’ sounds weak, US President Donald Trump wants to bring back the title America used until 1947: the Department of War
Donald Trump has signed an executive order rebranding the Department of Defense with its original title, the Department of War. (Image: AP)
In a move that harks back to America’s earliest years, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order rebranding the Department of Defense (DoD) with its original title, the Department of War. The decision revives a name last used officially in 1947 and, according to Trump, restores a sense of “strength and tradition.”
At the signing ceremony, Trump argued that America’s greatest military victories came when the department carried that name. “We won the first world war, we won the second world war, we won everything before that and in between. And then we decided to go woke and we changed the name to the Department of Defense,” he said.
The order allows Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior Pentagon officials to adopt secondary titles such as “Secretary of War” and “Deputy Secretary of War” in official correspondence and public communications.
What Has Trump Ordered?
The executive order does not formally erase “Department of Defense.” Instead, it introduces “Department of War” as a secondary title for Pentagon agencies and officials. Axios reported that Hegseth has already renamed his conference room the “W.A.R. Room” and embraced the title informally.
A full legal renaming would require congressional approval. Republicans have introduced a “Department of War Restoration Act of 2025,” though its chances remain unclear. Trump has insisted lawmakers will not be difficult to persuade, though Politico noted the White House has also looked for ways to bypass a vote.
Why Bring Back ‘War’?
Trump has repeatedly argued that the term “war” carries a stronger, more assertive message than “defence.” In his view, “defence” suggests passivity at a time when the United States should also signal readiness for offence.
The text of the executive order states that the change will “project strength and resolve” and “signal to adversaries America’s readiness to wage war to secure its interests.” Hegseth has publicly supported the move, calling it a way to sharpen the department’s focus and instil a “warfighter ethos.”
The Origins Of The Department Of War
The story of the War Department stretches back to 1789, when Congress established it to oversee the Army, Navy and Marine Corps in the fledgling republic. George Washington signed the law and appointed his trusted aide, Revolutionary War commander Henry Knox, as the first Secretary of War.
Over the next century and a half, the department grew alongside America’s military needs. In 1798, responsibility for the Navy shifted to a separate Navy Department. The Marine Corps was formally transferred there in 1834. The Army Air Corps, a precursor to today’s Air Force, was created under the War Department in 1926.
By the early 1940s, with World War II underway, the Army reorganised itself into ground, air, and service forces. Still, the Army and Navy operated largely as parallel institutions. The War Department remained the hub for managing land operations and logistics, while the Navy handled maritime campaigns.
From War To Defense: Why The Name Changed
World War II revealed flaws in this fragmented structure. The United States fought on two main fronts: in Europe, under the Army’s Dwight D. Eisenhower, and in the Pacific, led by the Navy’s Chester Nimitz. After the war, assessments suggested that rivalry among branches may have weakened overall coordination.
President Harry Truman responded with the National Security Act of 1947, which merged the War and Navy Departments with the newly independent Air Force into the National Military Establishment (NME). This was the first step toward a unified defence command. The law also created the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency.
However, the new acronym “NME” sounded awkward, too close to the word “enemy.” In 1949, Congress passed an amendment renaming it the Department of Defense. Truman promoted the change as a way to ensure efficiency, reduce duplication, and give a civilian Secretary of Defense overarching authority. Since then, “DoD” has been the name synonymous with America’s global military posture.
Why Now? The Politics Behind The Push
The US president has often accused the military leadership of being “woke” and too soft. He has pointed to mixed US outcomes in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan as evidence that the post-war era of “defense” has coincided with stalemates and defeats, unlike the victories of the world wars.
The renaming comes ahead of America’s 250th birthday, a milestone Trump has tied to other symbolic reversals. Earlier this year, he ordered the restoration of old names for military bases that had been changed under the Biden administration.
Symbolism Versus Reality
Trump and Hegseth see the move as signalling toughness, deterring adversaries, and rebuilding morale within the ranks. “It will set the tone for the country,” Hegseth said.
Critics, however, warn of risks. Forbes noted that allies could interpret the change as America moving away from its post–World War II emphasis on defence alliances and diplomacy, toward an overtly aggressive posture. Historians also point out that the old War Department did not run all wars in the way Trump suggests, it mainly oversaw the Army.
Wayne Lee, a military historian at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, told Task & Purpose: “The War Department did not run the nation’s wars. It ran the nation’s Army at war.”
As per Politico, many inside the Pentagon view the move as “purely for domestic political audiences,” with “zero impact” on how China or Russia calculate US power but a potential propaganda gift for adversaries who can portray America as warmongering.
The Costs Of Rebranding
Beyond symbolism, there are practical concerns. Rebranding a department of this scale could be enormously expensive. Firstpost cited experts estimating “hundreds of millions of dollars” for new signage, manuals and digital platforms. Politico, drawing on current and former defence officials, reported the figure could run into billions once seals, logos and stationery across 700,000 facilities in 40 countries and all 50 states are replaced.
For comparison, the US Naming Commission put the cost of renaming Confederate-linked bases at $62.5 million, a fraction of what this overhaul might entail.
Even small details are daunting. Politico noted the change would affect everything from embossed napkins in military dining halls to Pentagon store keychains.
At a time when the Trump administration has also promised to cut “wasteful spending,” this potential expense has drawn attention.
Political Reactions
Congressional reaction has been split. Republicans like Rick Scott and Mike Lee back legislation to restore the War Department name. But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell criticised the move, arguing that real strength requires resources, not rebranding: “If we call it the Dept. of War, we’d better equip the military to actually prevent and win wars. ‘Peace through strength’ requires investment, not just rebranding.”
Democrats have dismissed the order as a distraction. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called it “dangerous” and said focusing on cosmetic changes undermines troop readiness.
Implementation Chaos
The rollout has already sown confusion. The Pentagon briefly redirected its website from defense.gov to war.gov, which promptly went down. Its official X account adopted a “Department of War” handle and new seal but left the old banner logo intact. Contractors, universities and nonprofits dependent on DoD funding are worried about the messaging challenges of working with a “Department of War.”
What Happens Next?
For now, “Department of War” is only a secondary title authorised by executive order. A permanent legal change would require Congress, though the White House has directed Hegseth to use “Secretary of War” in official communications and to push enabling legislation.
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar…Read More
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar… Read More
September 06, 2025, 12:04 IST
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