Trump to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War

Donald Trump is set to sign another controversial executive order today, September 5. The move would rebrand the Pentagon for the first time in decades, changing the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of War.

Trump, no stranger to executive orders, signed several within hours of returning to the presidency in January. Many were unpopular, with the so-called “big beautiful bill” drawing particular criticism.

The Proposal

According to documents obtained by the BBC, the administration plans to use “Department of War” as a secondary title. The order states:

“The name ‘Department of War’ conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to ‘Department of Defense,’ which emphasizes only defensive capabilities.”

The bill instructs Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to propose legislative and executive measures to make the name permanent.

Hegseth Supports the Change
Speaking to Fox News, Hegseth said:

“We won WWI, and we won WWII, not with the Department of Defense, but with a War Department. As the president has said, we’re not just defense, we’re offense.”

He added, “We’ve reestablished a warrior ethos at the Department. We want people who understand how to exert lethality on the enemy. Words, names, and titles matter. We’re working with the White House and the president on this. Stand by.”

Public Backlash
While Hegseth supports the change, many Americans disagree. Social media users reacted strongly:

“This is so stupid. It’s going to make us a laughing stock in front of allies and enemies,” one Twitter user said.

“Renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War to intimidate our adversaries is dumb,” another added.

“I don’t understand why he wants to do this. Just a whim?” questioned a different commenter.

“Changing the name is dumb and a huge waste of money,” argued another.

Some observers compared the proposed rebrand to Trump’s controversial decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, which the administration claimed became official in January.

Historical Context
Trump has long praised the Department of War, insisting the U.S. had an “unbelievable history of victory” under that name before it changed in 1947.

What’s Next?
The executive order is expected to be signed today, officially beginning the process to rename the Pentagon. The move is already sparking debate over symbolism, practicality, and cost.