Presidential Action Raising Question About Military Identity
US President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order this Friday changing the name of the Department of Defence to the ‘Department of War’, something he has been dropping hints about for weeks. A White House spokesperson confirmed plans to CNN, a move that comes after previous statements by Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and also by Trump himself. Addressing journalists on August 25, Trump stated, “We call it the Department of Defence, but between us, I think we’re gonna change the name… Defence is a part of that, but I have feeling we’re gonna be changing.”
Hegseth has reinforced the administration’s intentions, telling reporters at Fort Benning that the change is imminent. “Stand by tomorrow… Words matter. Titles matter. Cultures matter. George Washington founded the War Department. We’ll see,” he said, signalling that the official order could come as soon as Friday.
Historical Context: From War to Defence
President George Washington created the Department of War to administer the US Army, which was renamed in 1949 by President Harry Truman as a part of a wide-ranging military reorganisation. The National Security Act of 1947 consolidated the Department of the Army (previously War Department), the Department of the Navy, and the new Department of the Air Force into the National Military Establishment, which came to be renamed the Department of Defence. The law also provided civilian control, with the department being led by a Secretary of Defence and the Joint Chiefs of Staff established to provide counsel to the president regarding military strategy.
Trump’s planned rebranding is the first significant effort to roll back this close to 75-year-old naming convention. Supporters say it represents a more aggressive military stance, while opponents caution it may presage a militaristic style in message and policy.
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A Wider Campaign to Rename Military Properties
This renaming effort is part of a broader effort spearheaded by Hegseth to rename military bases and ships. In the early part of this year, he overturned Biden-era choices stripping bases like Fort Bragg and Fort Hood of Confederate-era names. He also suggested renaming a Navy oiler which had already been named after LGBTQ+ activist and veteran Harvey Milk, citing consistency with the administration’s policy regarding military history.
With the executive order imminent, the Pentagon can expect a sudden rebranding that reignites controversy regarding US military identity, history, and symbolism.
