President Donald Trump announced that he will sign an executive order this Friday to revive the historic name “Department of War”, replacing the current Department of Defense, as part of a strategy to project a tougher and more combative image of the U.S. military.
Although only Congress has the power to officially change the name, the order will allow the Pentagon to use titles such as Sec. of War or Department of War as secondary designations in official documents and public communications. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the initiative and has already used the new name on his social media accounts.
The move is part of a broader cultural transformation under Hegseth’s leadership, including the elimination of diversity programs, the removal of certain educational materials, and the expulsion of transgender service members from active duty.
Why is this name change significant now?
Because it is more than a semantic adjustment: it symbolizes the administration’s intent to reaffirm a more offensive military posture, aligning with an ideological vision that rejects what they see as a “too defensive” or “politically correct” approach.
