United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to rebrand the Department of Defence as the “Department of War,” a move he says better reflects America’s strength and resolve.
According to a White House statement on Thursday, the president is expected to sign an executive order authorising the use of the new name as a “secondary title” within his administration.
The order permits defence officials to adopt terms such as “Secretary of War” in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial events, and other executive branch documents.
“The name conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve,” the document stated, stressing that the change is intended to signal Washington’s willingness to confront adversaries directly.
Trump, 79, has in recent weeks hinted at the shift, repeatedly arguing that the Department’s current name was “too defensive.”
“When this country had a Department of War, we won World War I, we won World War II, we won everything,” Trump told reporters on August 25.
The planned order is part of a broader shake-up at the Pentagon since Trump returned to office in January and appointed former Fox News host and combat veteran Pete Hegseth as Defence Secretary.
Hegseth has backed the renaming, saying it restores a “warrior ethos” to the military. “This Department must focus on fighting and winning wars, not on the distractions of woke policies,” he said in recent remarks.
Historically, the Department of War was established in the 18th century to oversee U.S. land forces. It was reorganised after World War II into the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the Department of Defence in 1949.
The White House document noted: “Restoring the name ‘Department of War’ will sharpen the focus of this Department on our national interest and signal to adversaries America’s readiness to wage war to secure its interests.”
The order also instructs the newly styled Secretary of War to prepare legislative and executive recommendations that could make the change permanent.
Critics argue that the move could be reversed by a future president, but Trump has insisted the rebrand is necessary. “We need a name that projects strength. Defence is good, but War is stronger,” he said.