US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that directs the Department of Defense to be known as the Department of War. The move restores a name the agency last held in the 1940s and, according to the text of the order seen by the BBC, aims to 'project strength and resolve.' The department will initially use the new name as a 'secondary title' while the administration seeks congressional approval to make the change permanent.
The White House has not disclosed the rebranding costs, but US media estimates indicate a price tag of around a billion dollars for the overhaul of hundreds of agencies, emblems, email addresses, and uniforms.
The Department of Defense (DoD), which oversees the US armed services, is the successor to the War Department, established as a cabinet-level agency in 1789 and existing until 1947.
The executive order states that the name 'Department of War' conveys a stronger message of readiness compared to 'Department of Defense,' emphasizing offense over mere defense capabilities. Trump believes this name is more fitting given current global circumstances, stating it sends a message of victory.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will now be known as Secretary of War, and the order instructs him to recommend legislative and executive actions moving towards a permanent renaming. Hegseth claims that 'words matter' and insists this change is about restoring the department's focus on warfighting.
As the Pentagon's website transitioned to war.gov, critics, including Democratic Senator Andy Kim, expressed concern over the childish concept of renaming a department, asserting that Americans prioritize peacemaking over militaristic branding.
This major rebranding aligns with Trump’s goal of shifting the department's focus back to warfare, moving away from programs promoting diversity and inclusion. The renaming marks Trump’s 200th executive order since taking office, coinciding with rising military activity and new weapons displays from China that signal tensions in global security.
The White House has not disclosed the rebranding costs, but US media estimates indicate a price tag of around a billion dollars for the overhaul of hundreds of agencies, emblems, email addresses, and uniforms.
The Department of Defense (DoD), which oversees the US armed services, is the successor to the War Department, established as a cabinet-level agency in 1789 and existing until 1947.
The executive order states that the name 'Department of War' conveys a stronger message of readiness compared to 'Department of Defense,' emphasizing offense over mere defense capabilities. Trump believes this name is more fitting given current global circumstances, stating it sends a message of victory.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will now be known as Secretary of War, and the order instructs him to recommend legislative and executive actions moving towards a permanent renaming. Hegseth claims that 'words matter' and insists this change is about restoring the department's focus on warfighting.
As the Pentagon's website transitioned to war.gov, critics, including Democratic Senator Andy Kim, expressed concern over the childish concept of renaming a department, asserting that Americans prioritize peacemaking over militaristic branding.
This major rebranding aligns with Trump’s goal of shifting the department's focus back to warfare, moving away from programs promoting diversity and inclusion. The renaming marks Trump’s 200th executive order since taking office, coinciding with rising military activity and new weapons displays from China that signal tensions in global security.
