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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