Trump to Sign Order Renaming the Defense Department as the Department of War

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order renaming the Department of Defence as the Department of War, the White House said, fulfilling the president’s pledge to realign the mission of the armed forces by reverting to a name used for over 150 years until shortly after World War II

The measure, which has been expected for some time, underscores Mr. Trump’s efforts to reshape the military to align with his goals of projecting a more aggressive image by showcasing war-fighting capabilities.

Trump has sought to show strength, rather than the “wokeness” that he and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth claim clouded the military’s morale and mission under former President Biden. He has often referred back to the country’s dominant role in global conflicts and complained that it has not been celebrated enough.

Trump first floated the idea in August in the Oval Office, saying it sounded “like a better name” and that he believed

“We’re going to have to go back to that.” He said the name change would be a reminder of the country’s record of military victories under the old name, citing. We had an unbelievable history of victory when it was the Department of War,” Trump said.

“Defence is too defensive,” he added. “And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too if we have to be.”The month before Trump floated the idea, he referred to Hegseth as his “secretary of war.