Trump to Restore Historic ‘Department of War’ Name in Pentagon Shake-Up
Viable News Team 
President Donald Trump is signing an executive order today, Friday, 5 September 2025, to officially reintroduce the historic title “Department of War” as a secondary designation for the U.S. Department of Defense.
The move, confirmed by the White House, marks the latest step in Trump’s “warrior ethos” campaign aimed at reshaping the culture of the Pentagon and restoring military traditions he argues better reflect America’s historic victories.
Executive Order Details
The order instructs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to:
- Use the “Department of War” title alongside “Department of Defense.”
- Adopt the term “Secretary of War” in public-facing materials.
- Propose legislative and executive actions to make the name change permanent.
It also directs updates to Pentagon signage and websites, including renaming the public affairs briefing room as the “Pentagon War Annex.”
“This is about words, titles, and ethos,” Hegseth told Fox News earlier this week. “We’re not just defense, we’re offense. We want warriors who understand how to win wars, not just play defense.”
Trump’s Rationale
Trump argues that the U.S. achieved its most decisive victories under the original name.
“Everybody knows we had an unbelievable history of victory when it was the Department of War,” Trump said on August 25. “Then we changed it to Department of Defense.”
The Pentagon was originally called the Department of War until 1949, when it was restructured into today’s Department of Defense under the National Security Act of 1947 reforms.
Political and Legal Questions
It remains unclear whether US Congress will need to formally approve the change, as it holds authority over establishing federal departments. Still, Trump has insisted he does not require legislative approval.
“We’re just going to do it,” he said. “I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that. But I don’t think we even need that.”
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