Related videos:
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed an executive order this Friday that authorizes the Pentagon to once again use the name Department of War, the original designation of the institution until 1947.
The change, presented as a symbolic gesture of "military strength," marks the executive order number 200 of his current term.
"When Mr. Trump signs the directive renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War, it will be his 200th executive order since returning to the White House in January," announced the White House on its official X account.
Just a moment ago, the president finalized the signing in his office at the Oval Office.
Although Trump cannot officially change the name without Congress's approval, the measure allows the Pentagon to use "secondary titles" in acts, documents, and official communications, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity to the AP agency.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth celebrated the decision by posting on social media the phrase "Department of War" after the news was announced.
Hegseth, a close ally of Trump, had already advocated for a public survey on the topic in March and has repeatedly hinted that his position could receive a new designation.
"It may be a slightly different title tomorrow," he said Thursday at an event with soldiers in Fort Benning, Georgia.
The Department of War was established in 1789, the same year the Constitution of the United States went into effect.
In 1947, after World War II and in the context of the National Security Act signed that year, it was officially renamed as the Department of Defense, aiming to project a less belligerent approach and one more focused on national security.
During an event in August, Trump argued that "everyone likes that we had an incredible track record of victories when it was the Department of War. Then we changed it to the Department of Defense."
The president assured that, although Congress should intervene for a definitive change, his administration "will simply do it" and expressed confidence that lawmakers "will be in agreement."
The measure is part of the cultural agenda promoted by Hegseth since he took office, which includes the elimination of diversity programs, a review of military libraries, and the suppression of materials deemed "divisive" in academies and Army websites.
"Anyone who says in the Department of Defense that diversity is our strength is, frankly, mistaken," stated Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell last March.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Name Change from the Department of Defense to the Department of War
Why does Donald Trump want to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War?
Donald Trump seeks to project an image of "military strength" and return to a name that, according to him, better reflects past victories. This change is symbolic and is related to his agenda of strengthening the military power of the United States, even though the official name change would require Congressional approval.
Can Trump officially change the name of the Department of Defense without Congress?
Trump cannot officially change the name of the Department of Defense without approval from Congress. However, he has authorized the use of the name "Department of War" in secondary titles in acts and official documents.
How has the Secretary of Defense reacted to this name change?
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has celebrated the name change. Hegseth, who is a close ally of Trump, has publicly supported the decision and promoted a survey about it in March.
Filed under: