US President Donald Trump has changed the name of the Department of Defense (Ministry) to the Department of War (DOW). US Defense Secretary (Minister) will also be known as War Secretary. Trump has argued that the world will now see America’s ‘strength and determination’.

On Friday (September 05, 2025), Trump issued a new order and along with this the sign board of Department of Defense on Pentagon (Headquarters of Defense Department) was removed. The name of ‘Department of War’ was written in his place. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also wrote ‘Secretary of War’ on the strip outside his office.

What did the US President say about ‘Department of War’?

Two years after the end of World War II, ie in 1947, the US changed the name of the War Department to Defense Department. Earlier in 1789, the then President George Washington established the Department of War to take responsibility for the issues related to the war and Navy department.

In his order on Friday, Trump appreciated the decision taken 236 years ago and said that the US had won 1812, the First World War and Second World War (1940–45) along with the name (War Department).

Why did America change the name?

However, the US won the Iraq in the Gulf War (1991), but the Vietnam War (60–70s) and Afghanistan (2001–21) did not win. America’s military weakness has been revealed openly due to Russia-Ukraine war. This is the reason that Trump announced to change the name of America once again as the world’s military superpower.

According to Trump, ‘The war department name ensures peace through power, more than the current Defense Department, because it reflects our ability and will to fight and win war in a moment, but in a moment.’

‘Peace will be established only with strength’

According to the US President, ‘The new name (War Department) also makes more clear to focus on our desire and availability to wage war against enemies to protect our own national interest and protect our interests.’

On changing the name, Pete Hegseth also said that preparations for war will have to be done for peace, because peace can be established only by strength. All 11 theater commands of the US are under the command, soldiers, fighter aircraft and warships, DOWs.

America has the third largest army in the world

America is considered the most powerful army in the world due to the world’s third largest army (13 lakh soldiers). The US defense budget is about one trillion dollars ($ 997 billion), which was a total of 37 percent of the world’s spending on arms and forces.

The US has divided the whole world into its 11 theater commands, which have about 5000 military aircraft and more than 300 warships with around 1800 fighter jets. America’s stock has more than 5000 nuclear weapons, which are almost equal to Russia.

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The name of the headquarters of the Defense Department of America has now changed. President Trump has now changed the name of the Pentagon to the Department of War, that is, it will now be called the war department. Trump has signed on an executive order on Friday (September 5, 2025). He said that it has sent a ‘message of victory’ to the world.

Talking to reporters at the oval office, Trump said, “I think it gives the message of victory, this name is more suitable given the current situation of the world.” Although Trump cannot formally change the name of Pentagon without the approval of the Congress, his order has allowed the war department to be used as secondary posts.

According to the report of the news agency AFP, it is actually reminiscent of the war department to keep this name of Trump. Soon after independence from the British in 1789, this title was used for more than 150 years, till the Second World War II.

What was the war department?

The war department was created by the then President George Washington. According to the web page, an official history of the Pentagon, it looked after the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps, but a decade later the Navy and Marines separated. The current Defense Department has included Army, Navy, Marine Core, Air Force and recently space force, all of which are different from the original war department.

Why did Trump change the name?

It seemed as if Trump had been responsible for his decision to call him the Defense Department for the military failures of America since the victory in the first and World Wars. He said, ‘We could win every war, but we really chose to be very politically right or aware.’

This Rebranding is part of Trump’s widespread attempt to demonstrate its power and strength in the country and abroad in his second term, which is part of his Make America Great Again policy. Trump had earlier complained that the current name is very ‘defensive’. He said, ‘I don’t just want to protect. I want to protect, but I also want to be aggressive.

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US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to change the name of the Defense Department i.e. Pentagon to War Department. He said that this name reflects America’s military power and aggressive strategy better.

What is Trump’s thinking behind changing the name of Pentagon?

Trump says that at present, the defense department name seems to be associated with the Vok ideology. He said that from 1789 to the end of World War II, America’s Army fought under the banner of War Department. He believes that since the name of changing the name, the US has not won any major war, so the name of the Pentagon is to reinstate the history and tradition. Trump also said that the name of the war department seems more powerful and better.

Congress and law challenge

However, only the Congress has the right to change the name of federal departments under the US Constitution. On Capital Hill, pro -Trump Republican MPs have introduced a bill to give the status of law. Representative Greg Stube and Senator Rick Scott and Mike Lee have supported the proposal. He says that this step is like honoring the firepower and commitment of American soldiers.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supported Trump and said that we have not won any major war since changing the name. Now we have to adopt an aggressive attitude, not just defense. Hegseth and Trump have earlier tried to restore military bases named Confederate Generals, which was stopped by the Congress.

History of war department

The war department was established in the year 1789. However, later in 1947, President Harry Truman reorganized it and named it Defense Department. Army, Navy and Air Force joined this department. Trump claims that America made a spectacular history of victory with the name of the war department.

Why is there a dispute over changing the name of Pentagon?

This decision has created a stir in American politics. While the Republican leaders are calling this move an honor of the American tradition, the Democrats consider it to be the misuse of power. Representative Don Beckon said that the Trump administration is trying to throw dust in the eyes of the Congress.

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