Trump orders Pentagon to use Department of War as secondary title
US President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Friday directing the Department of Defense to adopt Department of War as an official secondary name. The order also renames Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as Secretary of War, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
According to the text of the order, the name “‘Department of War’ conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to ‘Department of Defense,’ which emphasizes only defensive capabilities.”
The Pentagon traces its origins to the War Department established in 1789 and rebranded after World War II. A permanent change would require congressional approval, but Trump expressed confidence in lawmakers’ support: “I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that. I don’t even think we need that,” he said last week.
The president argued the restoration would “sharpen the focus” on US interests and signal to adversaries America’s readiness to wage war. Trump has repeatedly said the US had “an unbelievable history of victory” in the world wars under the former name.
The White House has not estimated the cost of a permanent rebrand, but US media report expenses could reach billions of dollars, affecting agencies, emblems, uniforms and communications.
The move marks Trump’s 200th executive order and comes shortly after China showcased new weapons in a massive military parade, widely seen as a challenge to the United States.
Earlier it was reported that a U.S. federal court overturned a decision by President Donald Trump’s administration to revoke billions of dollars in federal research grants to Harvard University.
