U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War, according to local media reports.
The plan would allow the title to be used as a secondary name in official correspondence, paving the way for designations like "Secretary of War." A permanent legal change, however, hinges on congressional approval.
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth say the revival will underscore a stronger "warrior ethos." As Trump put it last month: "Defense is too defensive. And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too if we have to be. So, it just sounded to me like a better name."
Critics warn that resurrecting an 18th-century title could drive up costs and distract from urgent security priorities.
The Department of War was originally created in 1789 to oversee the U.S. Army and led the country's military through both world wars before being consolidated into the Department of Defense in 1949.
Now, as the White House prepares to sign the order, lawmakers in Congress will decide whether the Department of War will officially return – an issue with implications for America's defense posture and global strategy.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
