The White House is pushing forward with plans to rename the Department of Defence as the Department of War, according to multiple local media reports.
The announcement confirms President Trump’s earlier remarks, which suggested the change.
Congress originally established the Department of War in August 1789 to oversee the nation’s military operations and maintain the armed forces.
Following World War II, the department briefly became the National Military Establishment before adopting the Department of Defence title under the 1949 amendment to the 1947 National Security Act.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News that the rebranding reflects the administration’s goal of restoring traditional military priorities.
“As President Trump said, our military should focus on offence, not just defence, which is why he prioritises warfighters at the Pentagon instead of DEI and woke ideology,” Kelly said.
President Trump recently signalled the change at a White House event.
“You know, we call it the Department of Defence, but between us, I think we’re going to change the name,” he said, adding that more information could emerge, maybe soon.
President Trump emphasised the historical importance of the original name, linking it to past US military victories.
The US President said, “We won World War I (and) World War II”. He said, “They called it the Department of War. To me, that really defines it.”
He added that public sentiment favours the traditional name, noting the “unbelievable history of victory” under the Department of War title.
President Trump, along with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, is reshaping the Pentagon’s image to reflect a more aggressive military posture.
Their efforts include removing top military officials perceived to conflict with the administration’s strategic vision.
The 1947 National Security Act initially restructured the War Department into the National Military Establishment, uniting the Army, Navy, and newly formed Air Force.
The 1949 amendment formally created the Department of Defence, which remains the modern framework of the United States military.
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