On September 5, 2025, President Donald Trump signed his 200th executive order, a move that sent shockwaves through Washington and beyond: the Department of Defense would now bear the secondary title of the Department of War. While the legal name remains unchanged—since an official renaming would require congressional approval—the symbolism of the executive order has ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum, the military establishment, and the American public.
According to The Hill, the House Rules Committee just days later declined to include an amendment that would have legally mandated the department’s name change in the annual defense authorization bill. Despite reviewing 298 amendments for the massive defense policy legislation, the committee left out the proposal, effectively halting any immediate legal transformation. However, the Trump administration’s executive order, though largely ceremonial, has already prompted practical changes. New signage, updated logos, and revised documentation are being rolled out across military installations, with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—whom Trump now refers to as "Secretary of War"—overseeing the transition.
The cost of this rebranding is not trivial. South China Morning Post notes that updating every logo, document, website, plaque, and building sign could cost taxpayers upwards of $1 billion, potentially even more. Critics argue that these funds would be better spent on training, modernization, or direct support for service members, rather than what some see as a cosmetic overhaul.
President Trump, for his part, has been clear about the message he intends to send. In the executive order, he wrote, "The name 'Department of War,' more than the current 'Department of Defense,' ensures peace through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment's notice, not just to defend." He has repeatedly claimed that the original 1949 switch to "Department of Defense" was a reflection of postwar softness and political correctness, a sentiment he believes undermines the nation’s military ethos.
"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," Trump told reporters while signing the order on September 6, 2025, as reported by The Hill. "We could have won every war, but we really chose to be very politically correct, or wokey, and we just fight forever." This rhetoric, which many see as a direct rebuke of the Pentagon’s post-World War II culture, has not gone unnoticed by military veterans, Pentagon officials, and progressives, many of whom view the move as an embrace of militarism and nationalist imagery.
The symbolism is powerful—words matter, after all. As The Hill’s Bill Press put it, "Just one word can make a big difference. And the change of just one word can send a powerful message. That’s President Trump’s goal." Critics warn that the new title projects an America eager for conflict, rather than one committed to defense and peace. The Department of Defense, as originally renamed by President Harry Truman in 1949, was intended to reflect the nation’s commitment to peace and the defense of democratic allies, rather than aggression.
Yet, as some commentators and lawmakers have pointed out, the United States has engaged in far more military interventions under the "Defense" label than it ever did under the "War" moniker. A Congressional Research Service report cited by Rolling Stone notes that of the 393 military interventions launched by the U.S. since 1798, over 200 have occurred since 1945. That figure doesn’t even account for clandestine operations, such as a 2019 Navy SEAL raid that resulted in the deaths of innocent North Korean fishermen.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight what he called the uncomfortable honesty of the change: "If it is called the Department of War, can we finally acknowledge it commits Acts of War?" Economist Peter Schiff, in a similar vein, remarked, "Trump is renaming the Dept. of Defense the Dept. of War, with Pete Hegseth becoming Secretary of War. While he's at it, Trump should also rename the Dept. of the Treasury the Dept. of the Debt, with Scott Bessent becoming Secretary of the Debt. Both names seem more appropriate."
Supporters of the rebranding, including some conservative editorialists, argue that euphemisms like "defense" and "security" have enabled what they call "mission creep," leading the U.S. military into conflicts and roles far removed from its original mandate. An editorial published on September 6, 2025, contended that "defense" and "security" have historically invited expansionist policies and that a more honest label might prompt a national reckoning with the true scope of American military power. The editorial also criticized the 2022 National Defense Strategy for mentioning "climate" 19 times, stating, "Climate change is a problem, but fighting it is not the military’s job."
Still, many argue that the name change does little to address the real challenges facing the Pentagon. As South China Morning Post observed, the U.S. military is the world’s largest and most sophisticated, but it’s also burdened by a sprawling bureaucracy of over 2 million people, including layers of civilian and military leadership, a global network of combatant commands, and a structure that often leads to duplication, rivalry, and inertia. "To speak openly of a war department undermines America’s moral standing," the publication warned, "validating critics who accuse Washington of clinging to hegemony by force rather than adapting to an era of multipolarity and interdependence."
The Trump administration, however, seems undeterred. Secretary Hegseth has already ordered that signage at military installations be changed from "defense" to "war." The president himself has leaned into the rhetoric, posting on Truth Social that "Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR," in reference to deploying federal troops to the city. Vice President J.D. Vance praised a recent military action—bombing a boat suspected of drug smuggling—as "the highest and best use of our military." For critics, these actions and words signal a dangerous shift toward a more aggressive, less restrained military posture.
Others see irony in Trump’s decision. On the campaign trail in 2024, he positioned himself as the anti-war candidate, even suggesting he was deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize. Yet, his administration has been marked by drone strikes, bombings, and now, a symbolic embrace of "war" as the core identity of America’s military might.
Ultimately, the debate over the Pentagon’s new name is about more than just a sign on a building. It’s a struggle over the nation’s self-image, its role in the world, and the meaning of military power in the 21st century. Whether the rebranding will stick, or whether it will prompt deeper reforms, remains to be seen. But for now, Americans—and the world—are left to ponder the implications of a Department of War in a time of uncertain global order.
