Sat Sep 06 04:20:26 UTC 2025: **NEWS ARTICLE**
**Trump Renames Department of Defense to Department of War**
*WASHINGTON, D.C. -* In a move steeped in symbolism and stirring controversy, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, September 5, 2025, officially renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The change reverts to the department’s pre-1949 designation, a decision Trump claims reflects a renewed focus on “winning” and a more aggressive stance on the world stage.
“It’s a very important change because it’s an attitude,” Trump stated during the Oval Office ceremony. “It’s really about winning.”
The order empowers Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, now addressed by Trump as “Secretary of War,” to utilize the new title in official communications. Hegseth, a long-time advocate for the change, lauded the move, declaring, “We’re going to go on the offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality.”
The announcement has sparked immediate debate. While Republican Senators Mike Lee and Rick Scott, along with House member Greg Steube, swiftly introduced legislation to solidify the change, questions remain regarding congressional approval and the potential cost of updating signage and materials across military installations worldwide.
Critics argue the renaming is a costly and unnecessary distraction. The previous attempt to rename bases honoring the Confederacy carried a $39 million price tag. Opponents also express concern that the shift signifies a dangerous departure from the Pentagon’s post-World War II focus on conflict prevention.
However, Trump dismissed concerns about congressional approval, stating, “We’re just going to do it. I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that… Defense is too defensive. We want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too if we have to be.”
This is not the first time the idea has been discussed. During Trump’s first term, current FBI Director Kash Patel used the title “Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense & the War Department” in his email signature.
The move is the latest in Trump’s efforts to reshape the U.S. military, following his authorization of a controversial military parade and the restoration of original names to military bases altered after the 2020 racial justice protests.
The future of the name change remains uncertain, dependent on both legislative action and the potential costs involved. However, the symbolic shift has undeniably ignited a national conversation about the U.S. military’s role and identity on the global stage.
First Piper 