On September 8, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that has sparked a political firestorm and reignited debate about America’s military identity: the Pentagon is to be rebranded as the Department of War. The move, which revives a title not seen since 1947, has already led to immediate changes in official signage and the Pentagon’s website, now found at "war.gov." Yet, in the midst of this sweeping rebranding, some institutions—like Monterey’s Defense Language Institute (DLI)—are standing firm, choosing to retain their established names and traditions.
The rationale behind the executive order is, at least according to Trump’s team, all about messaging. As reported by the BBC, the president’s advisers argue that the term “Defense” is too passive for the current era. One senior official put it bluntly: the existing name makes it seem like the United States is “waiting to get hit.” President Trump’s Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, echoed this sentiment in a recent appearance on Fox News, declaring, “We won WWI, and we won WWII, not with the Department of Defense, but with a War Department. We’re not just defense, we’re offense.”
Hegseth, a vocal supporter of the change, believes that the rebrand will help foster a renewed “warrior ethos” across the U.S. military. “Names matter,” he insisted, suggesting that the new title will project strength, clarity, and a sense of mission both at home and abroad. The executive order reportedly tasks Hegseth with finding the legal and procedural pathways to make the change stick, even as the Pentagon’s digital and physical identity shifts overnight.
But not everyone is on board. In fact, the backlash has been swift and, in many quarters, scathing. Social media platforms lit up with criticism almost as soon as the news broke. According to the BBC, users on X (formerly Twitter) mocked the proposal, with one writing, “This is so stupid and it’s going to make us a laughing stock in front of both our allies and our enemies.” Another user quipped, “Renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, because it is more intimidating to our adversaries, is stupid.”
Concerns extend beyond mere symbolism. Critics argue that the name change is a costly distraction at a time when resources could be better spent elsewhere. “Changing the name is dumb for lots of reasons, but not least of which is it’s just a huge waste of money,” another commenter noted. The financial implications of updating everything from signage to digital infrastructure are not trivial, and some see this as yet another example of performative rebranding with little strategic value.
Analysts and former officials have also weighed in, warning that the move could have serious diplomatic repercussions. As one former Pentagon official told several outlets, “This isn’t just semantics. It suggests a philosophical shift—from defense and diplomacy to something far more aggressive.” The rebranding, they argue, risks damaging the U.S.’s image as a stabilizing force, especially during a period of global instability where America’s role as a peacekeeper is already under scrutiny.
The history behind the names is not lost on anyone following the story. The United States originally operated under a Department of War until 1947, when President Harry Truman oversaw a reorganization that established the Department of Defense. That change was meant to reflect a new era of deterrence and cooperation, particularly as the Cold War dawned. Trump, however, has argued that “America’s unbelievable history of victory” was achieved under the old name, and that restoring it would help clarify the military’s mission for a new generation.
Yet, as the Pentagon embraces its new identity, some military institutions are choosing a different path. The Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California—an internationally respected center for foreign language training—confirmed on September 9, 2025, that it will keep its current name and branding. According to DLIFLC’s own statements, it has “no plans to change its name,” and its website continues to refer to itself as the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. This decision underscores the autonomy that some agencies maintain even in the face of sweeping federal changes, and highlights the value they place on their established reputations.
The executive order signed by Trump is effective immediately, but there’s a catch: while it allows for internal policy changes and rebranding, formalizing the switch to “Department of War” on a nationwide scale would ultimately require congressional approval. As reported by both BBC and DLIFLC, Congress must act to make the name change permanent. Legal experts have pointed out that while the president can direct internal agency policy and branding, any long-term or budget-related aspects of the change—such as appropriations for new signage or digital assets—may face scrutiny, litigation, or even reversal if the political winds shift.
The proposal has also drawn comparisons to other controversial rebranding efforts by the Trump administration. Earlier this year, the White House briefly attempted to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” a move that was widely mocked and failed to gain international traction. Critics see the Pentagon rebranding as part of a pattern, with one observer calling it “another example of performative rebranding” that does little to address substantive challenges facing the military.
Foreign policy analysts are particularly wary that the new name could send the wrong message to allies and adversaries alike. At a time when the U.S. is trying to project stability and reliability, a shift toward what some see as militaristic branding may undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts. “It’s not just about what we call ourselves,” one analyst noted, “but about how the world perceives our intentions and our willingness to work with others.”
As the dust settles, the next steps remain uncertain. The Pentagon’s website and signage now reflect the Department of War branding, but the process of formalizing the change is likely to be contentious. Congressional approval is needed for the name to become official, and it’s unclear whether lawmakers—many of whom have already voiced skepticism—will support the move. In the meantime, institutions like the Defense Language Institute are sticking to their guns, preserving their own identities amid the shifting political landscape.
One thing is clear: this is more than a bureaucratic tweak. The debate over what to call America’s military headquarters has become a lightning rod for larger questions about the nation’s posture in the world, the role of symbolism in public life, and the boundaries of presidential power. Whether the “Department of War” name will stick—or fade away once more—remains to be seen. For now, the Pentagon’s new moniker is a symbol of deeper currents running through American politics and society in 2025.
