President Donald Trump has recently suggested a significant change to the name of the U.S. Department of Defense, proposing it be renamed back to its historical title, the Department of War. This suggestion came during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, where Trump expressed his view that the current name, Department of Defense, sounds too defensive and lacks the stronger, more assertive tone he desires. Trump referenced America's historic military victories under the original name, particularly in World War I and World War II, asserting that the Department of War name symbolizes a victorious and warrior ethos that he wishes to revive. He indicated that an announcement about this change might come soon, possibly within a week, and expressed confidence that Congress would support this decision if needed .

Trump contended that the original Department of War, established by George Washington in 1789, was renamed the Department of Defense in 1949 after World War II to unify the Army, Navy, and newly created Air Force under a single cabinet-level agency. He criticized the change as politically motivated and believes that returning to the Department of War name would better reflect the military’s full spectrum of capability and strength. Trump has even referred to his Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, as the "Secretary of War" on several occasions, reinforcing this narrative. Hegseth himself has publicly supported the change, promoting a revival of what he calls the department's "warrior ethos" .

The proposal has stirred discussion in Washington, with at least one member of Congress, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), expressing support for legislation to restore the Department of War name. Trump has stated that the name Department of Defense implies a solely defensive posture, whereas he wants a name that embodies both defense and offense, reflecting a more aggressive stance if necessary. He recalled the success and strength of the U.S. military during the era when the original name was used, suggesting that the symbolic change could boost morale and recruitment, which have already seen improvement during his term. Trump also linked the name change to broader themes of U.S. military strength and readiness for future conflicts .

Despite Trump's confidence in implementing the change, the legal and procedural aspects remain unclear. Changing the department's name officially requires Congressional approval since it was Congress that enacted the National Security Act of 1947, which created the current Department of Defense. Trump has downplayed this obstacle, stating he believes the change will be accepted and suggesting that he might proceed even without explicit congressional authorization. This intended unilateral action has raised questions about the process and the political and legislative backlash that might follow. The debate over the renaming reflects broader themes of military identity, political symbolism, and the signaling of U.S. defense policy under Trump’s leadership .