Trump Moves to Rebrand Pentagon as “Department of War” in Symbolic Power Play

Trump Moves to Rebrand Pentagon as “Department of War” in Symbolic Power Play

Washington, D.C. (September 5, 2025) – President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order that will allow the U.S. Department of Defense to be referred to as the “Department of War” in official and ceremonial contexts, a move intended to project a more aggressive image of America’s military. Though the change lacks legal force without Congressional approval, the order authorizes temporary usage and lays the groundwork for a permanent name change through proposed legislative action.AP NewsThe Washington PostThe Guardian

A Return to a Historical Naming Convention

President Trump argues that "Defense" sounds too passive and lacks the assertiveness he believes is necessary for America’s global posture. “We want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive, too if we have to be,” he explained, pointing to the historical record of American military victories achieved under the “Department of War” designation.AP NewsThe Washington PostReuters

The Department of War was the original name dating back to 1789 and remained in use until post–World War II reforms, specifically the National Security Act of 1947, consolidated the Army, Navy, and Air Force under a unified Department of Defense in 1949.Wikipedia+1

What the Executive Order Authorizes

The executive order will:

• Permit usage of “Department of War” as a secondary title in official documents and communications.

• Authorize Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use the title “Secretary of War”.

• Instruct key administration figures to propose legislation and executive steps needed to make the name change permanent.AP NewsThe Washington PostReutersCBS News

Other elements of the rebranding may include updating signage, branding, and public-facing materials, including renaming parts of the Pentagon such as press briefing spaces (e.g., the “Pentagon War Annex”).The SunThe TimesFox NewsThe Guardian

Support and Controversy

Backing: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has championed the name change, framing it as part of a broader cultural shift aimed at removing “woke” influence and reinforcing a “warrior ethos” in the military. This follows other reforms under his tenure, including reductions in diversity initiatives and the removal of transgender service members.AP NewsReutersWikipedia

Criticism: Legal experts caution that only Congress can formally change the department’s name. The financial implications are also significant: widely distributed rebranding, from signage to vehicle markings, could mirror the costly base renaming process overseen by President Biden, which cost an estimated $39 million.Reuters+1The Washington PostThe SunAP News

Senator Tammy Duckworth, a military veteran, denounced the initiative, arguing that the costs and symbolic nature of the project distract from serious investment in servicemembers and national security readiness.Reuters

What Lies Ahead

• Legal and Legislative Vote: Congress must act to make any name change official, and while Republican majorities may be sympathetic, the move could spark spirited debates over symbolism versus substance.

• Cultural Symbolism vs. Strategic Reality: Critics argue the change is rhetorical and lacks strategic value amid rising global threats.

• Public and Institutional Reaction: The rebranding may heighten partisan divides and stoke concerns about militarization of civilian institutions.

Trump’s push to restore the “Department of War” moniker is less about bureaucracy and more a symbolic reassertion of an assertive, offensive-minded America. Whether this name change evolves into meaningful policy or becomes another flashpoint in cultural and political clashes remains to be seen.