Trump Signs Executive Order to Rename Department of Defense
In a significant move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to rename the U.S. Department of Defense back to its original title, the Department of War, citing the need to project “strength” and convey a “message of victory,” reports 24brussels.
The announcement came during a press briefing at the White House, where Trump, flanked by Secretary of State Pete Hegseth, argued that the renaming reflects the might of the U.S. military. “We have the most powerful armed forces in the world,” he asserted.
The Department of War was established in 1789, overseeing military operations throughout American history until the creation of the Department of Defense in 1947, a change prompted by a post-World War II restructuring. This reorganization aimed to unify military branches under a civilian command in response to the geopolitical realities of the Cold War, which emphasized deterrence over traditional warfare.
Hegseth supported the renaming effort, claiming, “We haven’t won a major war since the name was changed,” and suggested a more aggressive military posture, stating, “We’re going to attack, not just defend.”
However, Trump’s executive order faces constitutional challenges, as Congress retains the authority to establish and dissolve executive departments. In acknowledgment of these limitations, Trump expressed confidence that Congress would support the measure if necessary.
Support for the initiative is evident among Trump’s allies in Congress. Florida Republican Representative Greg Steube, an Army veteran, has already introduced a bill to enshrine the name change in law, arguing it pays tribute to the military’s commitment to “lethality.” Additionally, Senators Rick Scott (FL) and Mike Lee (UT) are preparing concurrent legislation.
This development follows a contentious history surrounding military base names, which had been altered in 2023 to remove references to Confederate generals. In a notable defiance of this change, Hegseth found alternative avenues to preserve what he deemed important military legacies by renaming Fort Bragg after a World War II hero and altering Fort A.P. Hill to honor Union soldiers.
These decisions have drawn ire from some Republican lawmakers, prompting calls for a definitive ban against restoring Confederate names on military installations.