In a dramatic move, US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense back to its original title, the Department of War.
Trump, joined by newly designated Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine, said the change was long overdue. “We won the First World War, Second World War—everything before that and in between—and then we decided to go woke and changed the name to ‘Department of Defense’. Now, we’re going back to ‘Department of War’. It’s much more appropriate for today’s world,” he told reporters before signing the order.
Secretary Hegseth hailed the decision as a restoration of military ethos. “This isn’t just about renaming, it’s about restoring. Words matter. The War Department will fight decisively, not wage endless conflicts. We’ll go on offense, not just defense—maximum lethality, not political correctness. We’re going to raise up warriors, not just defenders,” he said in a statement.
The White House also shared the announcement on X, while the newly rebranded Department of War released a video highlighting America’s historic victories under its former name.
Originally created by George Washington, the War Department managed the US Army until President Harry Truman’s 1947 National Security Act merged it with the Navy and Air Force under a new civilian-led Department of Defense. In 1949, the Pentagon formally adopted the “Defense” title, which has remained in place until now.
The latest move is part of a broader push by Hegseth to revive older military traditions. Reports indicate he has reversed several Biden-era changes, including restoring Confederate-linked base names such as Fort Bragg and Fort Hood, while also renaming a Navy ship that had honored gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
When asked about the implications of the rebranding, Trump said it sent a clear message to both allies and adversaries: “It sends a message of victory and strength.”
