“We changed the name after World War II from the Department of War to the Department of Defense and … we haven’t won a major war since.”
-Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to officially change the name of the Department of Defense to ‘Department of War’ as a secondary title. According to the fact sheet released by the White House on September 5th, 2025, “The name ‘Department of War’ conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to ‘Department of Defense,’ which emphasizes only defensive capabilities.” The order also directs executive agencies and departments to “recognize and accommodate secondary titles in internal and external communications,” as well as instructing Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, to recommend actions that would be required to permanently rename the department.
According to Section 1 of this Executive Order, the President declares, “The name “Department of War,” more than the current “Department of Defense,” ensures peace through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice, not just to defend. This name sharpens the Department’s focus on our own national interest and our adversaries’ focus on our willingness and availability to wage war to secure what is ours. I have therefore determined that this Department should once again be known as the Department of War and the Secretary should be known as the Secretary of War.”
The History of the Department
Two hundred thirty-six years ago, on August 7, 1789, President George Washington approved legislation creating the United States Department of War, which was charged with managing the nation’s military and naval operations. Under this title, the Department guided America through critical conflicts, including the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II, safeguarding liberty and ensuring prosperity for generations of Americans. On January 8, 1790, in his First Annual Address to Congress, President Washington reminded the nation, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”
In the aftermath of World War II, however, the term “war” carried a weight that unsettled both citizens and government leaders. As a result, steps were taken to reshape not only the structure but also the perception of America’s military organization. According to The Truman Library Institute, this effort began with the creation of the National Military Establishment through the National Security Act of 1947. The act aimed to overcome organizational shortcomings exposed by the war, while establishing the secretary of defense to unify policy and direction across the armed services without erasing their distinct identities. Initially, the secretary’s authority and resources were limited, but amendments in 1949, 1953, and 1958 expanded the office’s powers and responsibilities, creating the modern Department of Defense we know today. The 1949 amendment marked the official transformation from the Department of War into the Department of Defense.
What This Change Means Going Forward
The shift back to the Department of War intends to represent more than just a name change. Officials believe it reflects a deeper evolution in how this country organizes and envisions its physical and technical security. Structurally, it underscores a renewed clarity of mission. Placing the United States’ direct national defense at the forefront. Symbolically, the change hopes to convey, both to American citizens and to the world, that the US is no longer presenting its military readiness as a euphemism. Instead, naming it directly for what it is: the readiness and willingness to wage war when national survival, liberty, or honor is threatened. As stated in the fact sheet, “The United States military is the strongest and most lethal fighting force in the world, and the President believes this Department should have a name that reflects its unmatched power and readiness to protect national interests.”
While the long-term effects of this reversal remain to be seen, its immediate impact can be measured in the government’s desire for the US military to be seen as one that is willing (and very prepared) to fight. Going forward, the Department of War intends to embody not only the machinery of combat, but also the acknowledgement that peace can also be preserved by honestly, preparedness, and the resolve to confront threats head-on in world that remains turbulent and unpredictable.
Sources:
Bigg, Matthew. “Trump Is Bringing Back the War Department: What to Know.” The New York Times, 5 Sept. 2025, News Article.
“Restoring the United States Department of War.” The White House, 5 Sept. 2025, Presidential Actions, Executive Orders.
“Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores the United States Department of War.” The White House, 5 Sept. 2025, Fact Sheets