President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order Friday to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War.
The move marks a symbolic shift in tone, reviving the original name used until 1949.
The change will also grant Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the title “Secretary of War,” reflecting what insiders describe as an effort to restore a “warrior ethos” within the military establishment.
While the executive order allows the new title to be used in official and ceremonial contexts, a full legal renaming would require congressional approval.
The administration is reportedly considering legislation to formalize the change.
The Pentagon was originally known as the Department of War before its rebranding in the post–World War II era to emphasize defense and diplomacy.
