This decision, set to be signed on September 6, not only evokes America’s military history but also underscores President Trump’s commitment to reinforcing the image of a superpower ready to confront any threat. While the new title is merely a “secondary designation” and does not immediately alter the organizational structure, it has sparked heated debates about the role of the U.S. military in the 21st century.
Why Trump Renamed the Department of Defense to the Department of War
Experts note that the decision to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War is not a new idea for Trump. Over recent months, he has repeatedly raised the issue in press conferences and public speeches.
According to the White House, the executive order signed on September 6 will allow the Department of Defense to use “Department of War” as a secondary title, with Secretary Pete Hegseth permitted to adopt the title “Secretary of War.” Other government agencies are also required to recognize and adopt this new designation. Hegseth has been tasked with proposing legislative and executive measures to formalize the name change, though under current federal law, the official name remains the Department of Defense.
Trump’s primary rationale is to “convey a stronger message of readiness and resolve” for the U.S. military. Speaking at the White House, he argued that the term “Defense” sounds too “defensive” and fails to reflect the true nature of the world’s most powerful military force.
“We want to be defensive, but we’re also ready to go on the offensive when necessary,” he said, emphasizing that under the former “War” title, the U.S. won World War I and II. He further claimed that the shift from Department of War to Department of Defense in the late 1940s was due to the country becoming “too politically correct.” This aligns with Trump’s leadership style, which consistently emphasizes military strength and the vision of “Making America Great Again.”
Sources from Fox News, the first to report the plan, and CBS News confirm that the White House sees restoring the old name as a way to highlight the U.S. military as the world’s most formidable fighting force.
A White House fact sheet states: “The President believes this agency needs a name that reflects its unmatched power and readiness to protect national interests.” Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, strongly supports the idea, having even polled his followers on X (formerly Twitter) about the name change, with the majority in favor.
International and military history experts offer varied perspectives. Professor Richard H. Kohn, a military history expert at the University of North Carolina, noted that the 1949 name change reflected the military’s expanded role post-World War II, including preventing war in the nuclear age.
“The new name emphasized national security and war prevention, not just fighting,” Kohn told The New York Times.
However, Katherine Kuzminski, Director of Research at the Center for a New American Security, suggested that the name change could complicate the military’s domestic roles, such as National Guard missions or border support, as it might be perceived as “too aggressive” in a domestic political context.
From an international perspective, The Guardian (UK) argues that the decision reflects Trump’s hardline strategy to send a message to rivals like China and Russia. “It doesn’t change the substance, but it’s a symbolic gesture to bolster a strong image,” a BBC analysis noted.
Scholar Gregory S. Schneider from The Washington Post added that the old name harkens back to America’s history under George Washington, when the Department of War was established in 1789 to manage the Army, later merging with the Navy Department in 1947 under President Harry Truman to reduce overlap and emphasize national security.
Still, the cost of a full name change remains undisclosed but is estimated to be substantial, requiring updates to everything from uniforms and stationery to email addresses and Pentagon signage. Reuters sources estimate costs could reach millions of dollars, and a complete rename would require Congressional approval.
Legal experts like Professor Kate Greene from Harvard Law School note that the President cannot change the name via executive order without legislative backing but can use it as a secondary title.
Trump’s decision is not just a name change but a declaration of foreign policy aimed at reinforcing America’s global leadership.
According to experts, “reviving” the Department of War name does not alter the U.S. military’s colossal scale, which remains the world’s most powerful, per the 2025 Global Firepower report with its unmatched strength index.
The U.S. defense budget, at $895 billion, accounts for 40% of global military spending, supporting a massive force of over 2 million personnel, including 1.3 million active-duty troops and nearly 800,000 reservists. The Army leads with over 1.4 million personnel, followed by the Navy and Air Force, though it faces recruitment challenges due to declining eligibility rates.
In ground assets, the U.S. boasts approximately 4,640 tanks, primarily M1 Abrams, alongside hundreds of thousands of vehicles and artillery pieces, currently being modernized with hypersonic missiles and lightweight M10 Booker tanks.
The Air Force dominates the skies with over 13,000 aircraft, from F-35 stealth fighters to B-21 bombers, investing heavily in UAVs and stealth technology to outpace rivals like China.
The Navy remains the oceanic hegemon with 440 warships, including 11 aircraft carriers and 70 nuclear submarines, with plans to expand to 381-390 ships by 2054 to maintain Pacific dominance.
The U.S. military is organized into Unified Combatant Commands, including: Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), European Command (EUCOM), Central Command (CENTCOM), Northern Command (NORTHCOM), Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Africa Command (AFRICOM), and Space Command (SPACECOM).
As of 2025, approximately 200,000 U.S. troops are stationed abroad, primarily in Japan, Germany, and South Korea.
Trump’s decision is more than a name change—it’s a bold assertion of America’s superpower status, though challenges like modernization and political consensus demand attention. With unmatched strength, the U.S. military remains the shield and sword of national interests, raising questions about balancing power and diplomacy in a multipolar world.