Trump Gives Pentagon “Department of War” Secondary Title in Executive Order

White House order authorizes Pete Hegseth to use “Secretary of War” and launches a rapid rebrand to war.gov; formal legal name remains Department of Defense pending congressional action.

WASHINGTON | In a sweeping symbolic shift, President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order restoring “Department of War” as an official secondary title for the Pentagon and empowering Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to adopt the “Secretary of War” designation. The order triggered immediate rebranding steps across the department, even as the agency’s legal name remains the Department of Defense unless Congress acts. 

Within hours of the signing, the Pentagon’s public-facing ecosystem started to pivot: the long-standing defense.gov presence shifted to war.gov, senior officials adjusted social media titles, and door placards began reflecting the “War Department” styling. The administration cast the move as sharpening focus on “maximum lethality” and a revived warrior ethos. 

Despite the rebrand, federal law still enshrines the “Department of Defense.” A formal name change would require congressional legislation, as the post-WWII reorganization—spanning the National Security Act of 1947 and the 1949 amendments—created today’s DoD structure and title. Republicans in both chambers have now introduced bills to codify the new/old name. 

Supporters argue the “War Department” label projects deterrence and clarity of purpose, aligning with the administration’s emphasis on “winning” and offense as deterrence. Critics counter that the rebrand is costly, largely symbolic, and risks signaling a more bellicose U.S. posture abroad. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), a former Navy combat pilot, derided the change on social media, while defense officials and budget hawks questioned the price tag of an enterprise-wide makeover. 

The Department of War dates to 1789; after WWII, President Harry Truman and Congress consolidated the services under the National Military Establishment, renamed the Department of Defense in 1949—a shift that reflected Cold War realities, interservice coordination, and an emphasis on preventing great-power war. Today’s step does not undo that legal framework, but it revives the earlier nomenclature for messaging and branding. 

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

Congressional math: Whether Steube/Lee/Scott’s legislation can clear the 60-vote Senate hurdle. 

Scope & cost: How far the Pentagon takes the rebrand (uniforms, seals, signage worldwide, IT systems) and what the total cost becomes. 

Allied perception: How partners—and competitors—interpret the shift amid ongoing deterrence and coalition operations.

Litigation risk: Potential suits challenging executive authority to effect functional changes absent statutory revisions.

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-- By James W. Thomas

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