President Trump Orders Pentagon Rebrand to Department of War

President Donald Trump signed an executive directive Friday establishing “Department of War” as an alternative designation for the Pentagon, reviving the military agency’s original title that was used for nearly two centuries until 1947.

The presidential order creates a secondary designation rather than an official renaming, circumventing the congressional authorization required for formal federal agency name changes, according to an administration spokesperson.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Trump linked the name change to military effectiveness, stating the nation achieved victory in major conflicts including both world wars under the original designation before adopting what he characterized as politically motivated terminology.

The administration has already initiated symbolic modifications, with the Pentagon’s defense.gov web address now automatically forwarding users to war.gov.

The action follows recent military operations in which a US Navy airstrike resulted in 11 deaths aboard a vessel in international waters earlier this week. Military officials identified the target as a drug trafficking boat operated by Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua, though international law experts have raised questions about the strike’s legality.

The combination of heightened military operations and symbolic rebranding appears at odds with Trump’s campaign messaging that positioned him as a peace-focused leader committed to ending existing conflicts and preventing new military engagements. During Friday’s ceremony, Trump emphasized that his administration’s emphasis on strength and economic diplomacy has enhanced America’s global standing.

The president has argued that reverting to the historical designation more accurately reflects military accomplishments and provides clearer representation of the department’s mission. The proposed change would undo the 1947 renaming that occurred as part of post-World War II governmental restructuring that prioritized defensive rather than offensive military positioning.

Military officials confirmed that seven warships and a nuclear-powered submarine are now heading to the Caribbean, following Monday’s strike. The deployment marks a further step in the administration’s operation targeting Venezuela’s organized gang network.

While executive authority allows for the secondary designation, permanent renaming would ultimately require legislative approval. Republican representatives Greg Steube of Florida and Senator Mike Lee of Utah have introduced corresponding legislation to formalize the change.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking from the Oval Office, announced a change in the department’s approach, stressing a focus on offensive strength rather than defensive measures and placing combat readiness above what he described as bureaucratic limitations. He said the rebranding effort is intended to promote a stronger “warrior culture” throughout the armed forces.

The Department of Defense originally operated under the War Department designation from the nation’s founding in 1789 until the National Security Act of 1947 established the current structure and terminology.