Trump Administration to Revert Pentagon Name to ‘Department of War,’ Citing Historical ‘Victory’
Washington D.C. – In a move signaling a significant shift in military branding and ethos, President Donald Trump is slated to sign an executive order on Friday, September 5, 2025, to rename the Department of Defense back to its historic designation: the Department of War. This decision, long hinted at by the President and his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, marks a return to a name used for over 150 years until shortly after World War II.
The White House confirmed the impending executive order, which will initially introduce “Department of War” as a secondary title alongside “Department of Defense,” and refer to Secretary Hegseth as “Secretary of War.” The order also mandates that Hegseth propose further legislative and executive actions to make the name change permanent. This includes updating public-facing materials, websites, and even renaming the Pentagon’s public affairs briefing room to the “Pentagon War Annex.”
President Trump has consistently expressed his rationale for the change, emphasizing a historical connection to military success. “Everybody likes that we had an unbelievable history of victory when it was Department of War,” Trump told reporters in August. He added that the name change would serve as a reminder of the nation’s dominant role in global conflicts, particularly in World War I and II, which were fought under the “Department of War” banner. “Defense is too defensive,” he asserted, suggesting a desire to project both defensive and offensive capabilities.
Secretary Hegseth echoed these sentiments, highlighting a broader “warrior ethos” campaign within the Pentagon. “We’ve reestablished at the Department the warrior ethos. We want warriors, folks that understand how to exact lethality on the enemy,” Hegseth stated in a recent interview. He believes words, names, and titles carry significant weight in shaping culture and mission.
The Department of War was first established by President George Washington in 1789. It oversaw the nation’s military forces through numerous conflicts until 1947, when President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act. This act reorganized the military, merging the Navy, the newly formed Air Force, and the Army (formerly the Department of War) into the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the Department of Defense in 1949.
While the change will initially be implemented via executive order, it remains to be seen if congressional approval will ultimately be required for a permanent name alteration, as federal executive departments are typically established by Congress. However, President Trump has indicated confidence that lawmakers would support the move if necessary, or that it may not even require their approval.
This renaming of the Pentagon is not an isolated incident in the Trump administration’s second term. It follows a series of rebrands aimed at “Restoring names that honor American greatness,” as stated in a January executive order. Previous changes have included renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and reverting Mount Denali back to “Mount McKinley.” These actions underscore a consistent effort by the administration to reshape national symbols and institutions to align with its vision of American identity and strength.
