US President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Friday (September 5, 2025) to change the name of the country’s Department of Defense to the Department of War.
According to the Sianan News Network, citing a White House official, this decision was made with the aim of reviving the historical name of this institution, which was used until the end of World War II (1947).
Trump had previously said in statements: “We call it the Department of Defense, but I think the more real name for it is the Department of War.”
The executive order allows the Pentagon to use the title Department of War as a secondary title in official correspondence and ceremonies, and allows Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett to use the title Secretary of War.
However, the official name change of the department requires congressional approval.
This move is seen as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reflect a belligerent spirit and strengthen the image of American military power.
