On September 5, Donald Trump will sign a contentious executive order that will rename the Pentagon for the first time in many years. The order revives a title that hasn’t been used since 1947 by renaming the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of War.
The administration plans to use “Department of War” as a secondary title, portraying it as a more forceful declaration of “readiness and resolve” than “Defense,” according to documents the BBC was able to obtain.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is tasked by the directive with creating the procedures necessary to make the change permanent. “We won WWI and WWII not with the Department of Defense, but with a War Department,” Hegseth said in an interview with Fox News, defending the decision. We are offensive as well as defensive.
Additionally, Hegseth stressed that the rebrand embodies a “warrior ethos,” which is focused on projecting lethality against adversaries. Trump’s supporters contend that the new moniker represents power and deterrence in a volatile international setting.
The public’s response was swift and mostly negative. The proposal was called “embarrassing,” “wasteful,” and “stupid” on social media. The change, according to critics, would only serve as symbolic posturing and damage American credibility overseas.
The Department of Defense has stood for American strategic restraint for many years. Critics caution that bringing back the “Department of War” could destabilize international relations by sending a message of aggression to both allies and enemies.
As part of America’s “unbelievable history of victory,” Trump has long praised the former War Department. In contrast to the historical alternative, he has characterized the Defense title as “weak.”
In an already tense international environment, the order, which is anticipated to be signed today, has sparked discussion about its costs, symbolism, and possible effects on America’s reputation abroad.
