The Trump administration is advancing plans to rename the Department of Defense because the Department of War, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday (August 30, 2025), citing a White House official, after U.S. President Donald Trump raised the prospect on Monday.
Restoring the Department of War identify for the federal government’s largest division would seemingly require congressional motion, however the White House is exploring different strategies to implement the change, the report stated.
Republican Representative Greg Steube of Florida filed an modification to the annual protection coverage invoice that might change the identify of the division, indicating some Republican assist in Congress for the change.
The White House gave no particulars, however underscored Trump’s feedback this week emphasizing the U.S. army’s offensive capabilities.
“As President Trump said, our military should be focused on offense – not just defense – which is why he has prioritized warfighters at the Pentagon instead of DEI and woke ideology. Stay tuned!” stated White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, utilizing the initials DEI to seek advice from applications geared toward rising range, fairness and inclusion.
Mr. Trump raised the concept of rebranding the Defense Department because the “Department of War” whereas talking with reporters within the Oval Office on Monday, saying it “just sounded to me better.”
“It used to be called the Department of War and it had a stronger sound,” Mr. Trump stated. “We want defense, but we want offense too … As Department of War we won everything, we won everything and I think we’re going to have to go back to that.”
The War Department turned the Department of Defense by a gradual course of, starting with the National Security Act of 1947, which unified the Army, Navy, and Air Force below a single group referred to as the National Military Establishment.
An modification to the legislation handed in 1949 formally launched the identify “Department of Defense,” establishing the construction in place at the moment.
Mr. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been working to advertise a extra aggressive picture of the army whereas making a spate of different adjustments, together with purging high army leaders whose views have been seen as being at odds with Trump.
The Trump administration has additionally sought to bar transgender people from becoming a member of the U.S. army and take away all who’re presently serving.
