United States President Donald Trump is set to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War in a bid to rebrand the government agency with a more forceful image.
According to reports, the name change is expected to be implemented in an executive order. The “Department of War” will become the secondary name for the Department of Defense until legislative action can make the name change permanent.
President Trump believes that the name change will remind people of past US military victories in World War I and World War II, when the US was an emerging superpower.
“Everybody likes that we had an unbelievable history of victory when it was Department of War,” he said. “Then we changed it to Department of Defense.”
Trump emphasized that the current name is too defensive, stating, “Defense is too defensive. And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too, if we have to be.”
The Department of Defense was previously known as the “Department of War” from 1789 until a reorganization of the US military at the end of World War II, which concluded in 1945.
It was then renamed the National Military Establishment following a merger with other departments in 1947, and the name was later amended to the Department of Defense. These name changes were made through an act of Congress.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed support for the name change, stating that his agency wants a “warrior ethos.” “We want warriors, folks that understand how to exact lethality on the enemy,” he said.
“We don’t want endless contingencies and just playing defence. We think words and names and titles matter. So, we’re working with the White House and the president on it. Stand by,” he added.
It remains unclear how Trump will make the name change permanent, but Defense Secretary Hegseth will be instructed to pursue legal and legislative means.
The defence department is frequently referred to as just the “Pentagon”, after the unique shape of its headquarters near Washington, DC, or it is referred to by its initials, “DOD”.
The proposed name change from Department of Defense to Department of War reflects a shift in perception, with some arguing it would better reflect the department’s role.
Historically, the US Department of War was responsible for maintaining and operating the United States Army, overseeing interactions with Native Americans, and handling naval affairs until the establishment of the Navy Department in 1798.
The Department of War was formed on August 7, 1789, and existed for 158 years until it was replaced by the National Military Establishment, later renamed the Department of Defense, on September 18, 1947.
This change was part of a broader reorganization effort under the National Security Act of 1947, aimed at providing a comprehensive program for the country’s future security.
The name change from Department of War to Department of Defense was motivated by the United Nations’ efforts to promote peace and outlaw wars of aggression after World War II.
The new name was seen as more politically correct and reflective of the department’s focus on defense rather than war.
Some argue that the original name was more descriptive, while others see the current name as a reflection of the country’s shift towards a more nuanced approach to military action.
The National Security Act of 1947 not only changed the name of the Department of War but also led to significant restructuring of the US government’s military formations and foreign policy.
The act created the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of the Air Force, while also establishing a more precise line of command for all military affairs.
The legacy of the Department of War continues to influence the US military today. The US Army War College, for example, still trains military officers in battlefield tactics and strategy.
The name change may have been a response to the changing nature of warfare and the need for a more comprehensive approach to national security.