AMN / WEB DESK
US President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Friday authorizing the use of the historic name “Department of War” for the Pentagon, reviving a title last used before 1949. The order will not legally rename the Department of Defense, which was created after World War II reforms, but will allow officials to use “Department of War,” “Secretary of War,” and “Deputy Secretary of War” in ceremonial and non-statutory contexts.
The White House says the move fulfills Trump’s campaign pledge to “restore the warrior ethos” of America’s military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a close Trump ally, is expected to be styled as “Secretary of War” under the order. Hegseth has already renamed his Pentagon office the “W.A.R. Room” as part of the cultural shift.
Officials argue the rebranding signals strength and resolve, emphasizing readiness rather than mere defense. However, critics have dismissed it as a political stunt, warning that symbolism should not overshadow priorities such as troop welfare, modernization, and global security challenges.
The U.S. originally operated under a Department of War from 1789 until 1949, when the Department of Defense was established to unify the armed services under one civilian authority.