In a move that has already sparked debate across the nation and within Washington’s corridors of power, President Donald Trump on September 5, 2025, signed an executive order reviving a name not seen in U.S. governance for nearly eight decades: the Department of War. The order, which officially designates "Department of War" as a secondary name for the Pentagon’s sprawling bureaucracy, marks a dramatic shift in how America’s military posture is branded—and how its mission is perceived at home and abroad.
The decision, confirmed by the White House and widely reported by outlets including USA TODAY and The Hill, comes after weeks of hints from Trump that a change was afoot. The president, never one for understatement, told reporters on August 25, 2025, that the old moniker was simply “stronger.” As he put it, “It used to be called the Department of War, and it had a stronger sound. And as you know, we won World War I, we won World War II. We won everything.” According to USA TODAY, Trump further elaborated, “Defense is too defensive. We want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive, too. Seems much more appropriate.”
For many Americans, the Pentagon has long been synonymous with the Department of Defense, a name that evokes safeguarding the nation rather than projecting force. But as Trump and his supporters see it, the historical label—Department of War—better reflects both the country’s past and its ongoing military operations. “Defense is a part of that,” Trump said last week, as reported by The Hill. “But I have a feeling we’re going to be changing. Everybody likes that. We had an unbelievable history of victory when it was Department of War.”
Tracing the origins of the name reveals a deep well of American history. As USA TODAY notes, Congress first established the War Department in 1789, during the presidency of George Washington. Its first secretary, Henry Knox, was a hero of the Revolutionary War. At its inception, the War Department oversaw the Army, Navy, and Marines, though the Navy would soon have its own department. The War Department steered the country through numerous conflicts, including the Civil War and both World Wars, before the name was retired in a sweeping Cabinet reorganization under President Harry Truman in 1947. For a brief period, the military’s umbrella agency was known as the National Military Establishment, but by 1949 it had settled on the now-familiar Department of Defense.
Trump’s executive order doesn’t just revive an old name for nostalgia’s sake. According to a White House summary obtained by USA TODAY, the order authorizes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top officials to use secondary titles such as “Secretary of War,” “Department of War,” and “Deputy Secretary of War” in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial contexts, and non-statutory documents within the executive branch. All executive departments and agencies are required to recognize and accommodate the change in both internal and external communications.
The Pentagon’s leadership wasted no time embracing the shift. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted the new title on X (formerly Twitter) on September 4, 2025, just a day before the order was signed, as reported by The Hill. The symbolism is unmistakable: a return to a name that, for some, conjures images of American might and decisive action. Yet for others, the change raises questions about the message the United States is sending to the world—and to its own citizens.
Is Congress on board with the pivot? Trump, for his part, has played down the need for legislative approval, telling reporters, “We’re just going to do it. I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that. I don’t think we even need that.” Still, the executive order instructs Secretary Hegseth to recommend both legislative and executive actions to make the renaming permanent. In a swift show of support, Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) filed legislation on September 5 to change the name, while Representative Greg Steube (R-Florida) introduced a companion bill in the House, according to USA TODAY.
The move has already ignited a flurry of commentary and speculation about its implications. Some see it as a bold reassertion of American strength at a time of global uncertainty. Others worry it signals a more aggressive, less diplomatic approach to international affairs. The debate is as much about language as it is about policy. Does calling it the Department of War reflect a willingness to use force more readily? Or is it, as supporters argue, simply a return to the nation’s roots and a more honest acknowledgment of what the military is sometimes called upon to do?
Historical context matters here. The War Department name was abandoned in the aftermath of World War II, during a period when the United States was seeking to project a vision of peace and stability. The Cold War loomed, and the language of “defense” was thought to be more in keeping with America’s new role as a global superpower and a leader of alliances like NATO. Now, with Trump’s executive order, the pendulum swings back, at least symbolically, toward a more assertive posture.
There are also practical considerations. The order requires all executive departments and agencies to adjust their communications to reflect the new (or rather, old) terminology. That means everything from email signatures to official press releases could soon carry the Department of War label. Ceremonial events, public statements, and even internal memos are all set to be affected. While the order currently establishes “Department of War” as a secondary name, the push for permanent legislative change is already underway in Congress.
For the Pentagon’s rank and file, the change may seem mostly symbolic—at least for now. The department’s mission, structure, and day-to-day operations remain unchanged. Yet symbols matter, especially in government. The name on the letterhead, the titles used by top officials, and the language that frames America’s military endeavors all contribute to how the country sees itself and how it is seen by others.
As the dust settles on this latest Trump-era shakeup, the country is left to ponder what’s in a name. Is the return of the Department of War a harbinger of a new, more combative era in U.S. military policy? Or is it, as some argue, merely a rhetorical flourish—a nod to tradition and toughness in uncertain times? With legislative efforts now underway to make the change permanent, the debate is sure to intensify in the weeks ahead. For now, one thing is clear: the Pentagon’s identity, and perhaps America’s as well, is once again up for discussion.
