Fri Sep 05 21:14:35 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Trump Renames Department of Defense to “Department of War” in Symbolic Shift**

**Washington D.C.** – In a move that has sparked both praise and condemnation, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday renaming the Department of Defense to the “Department of War.” The President framed the decision as a rejection of “woke” ideology and a signal of a more aggressive military posture.

“We should have won everywhere. We could have won every war, but we really chose to be very politically correct or woke,” Trump stated during the signing ceremony in the Oval Office, referencing past American victories.

While the administration intends to use the new name in official correspondence and public statements, a permanent change would require Congressional approval. The Department of Defense was previously known as the Department of War until 1947, when the National Security Act reorganized the military and prioritized preventing war.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth echoed the President’s sentiments, stating the name change represented a “restoring the warrior ethos.” He vowed the new “War Department” would focus on decisive victories, offensive strategies, and “maximum lethality,” rather than “endless conflicts” and “tepid legality.”

The move comes days after Trump announced a deadly strike on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in international waters, a decision that has drawn scrutiny from legal experts who argue it lacks legal basis and risks harming civilians. Trump dismissed concerns about fishermen in the area of the strike, saying that boat traffic had decreased since.

Critics argue the name change is purely symbolic and potentially dangerous, signaling a disregard for diplomacy and international law. They also raise concerns about the legality and ethics of recent military actions, including the strike on the alleged drug boat. The change to “Department of War” has been met with mixed reactions, sparking debate over the future of American foreign policy and military strategy.

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