President Trump is pressing forward with an executive order to rebrand the Department of Defense with its original name: the Department of War.
The move revives a title last officially used in 1947, aiming to reinforce what the administration calls a “warrior ethos,” a phrase central to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s vision for the Armed Forces.
Under the order, “Department of War” will become an authorized secondary title for official communications, ceremonies, and internal use. The legal name remains unchanged, but the symbolic shift is clear.
The White House argues that the Department of Defense has drifted from its roots. Officials point to America’s greatest military victories — won under the old name — and criticize the modern Pentagon’s tilt toward political correctness.
It is part of a broader effort to push back against what the administration calls “wokeness” creeping into every corner of modern society — including the military.
The executive order allows Hegseth and other top officials to publicly use updated titles like “Secretary of War” and “Deputy Secretary of War,” signaling a return to a more aggressive and unapologetic military posture.
However, the rebrand hits a legal ceiling. Only Congress can formally change the name of a Cabinet department.
To that end, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) has introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would replace “Department of Defense” with “Department of War” in federal law. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) is preparing companion legislation in the Senate.
A full name change would involve considerable rollout costs, including signage, websites, and official documents. So far, the administration hasn’t released cost estimates.
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I am all for it. We need to show our strength not weakness.