Trump Revives ‘Department of War’ in Controversial Executive Order

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War, reviving a title last used in 1947. The order argues that the new name projects “strength and resolve,” contrasting with what Trump described as the more passive tone of “defense.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, now officially titled Secretary of War, hailed the move as a restoration of America’s “warrior ethos,” vowing that the military would focus on “maximum lethality” rather than “political correctness.” The Pentagon’s website and signage have already been updated to reflect the change.

Congressional approval is required to make the rebrand permanent, and critics, including Democratic Senator Andy Kim, blasted the move as “childish,” saying Americans want to prevent wars, not glorify them.

The rebranding, expected to cost billions, comes amid escalating global tensions and Trump’s push to refocus the US military on warfighting capabilities.