The Department of War: Trump's Rebrand and the Illusion of Strength

In a bold move that harks back to the nation's founding, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 5, 2025, rebranding the U.S. Department of Defense as the "Department of War." This secondary title, which the White House insists conveys "a stronger message of readiness and resolve," marks the 200th executive action of Trump's second term. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, now dubbed the "Secretary of War" in official communications, hailed the change as a restoration of the "warrior ethos," emphasizing "maximum lethality" over what he called "tepid legality." But while the administration frames this as a return to America's victorious roots, the move raises questions about its true motivations, staggering costs, and the hollow morale it seeks to inspire.

The historical context is straightforward. The Department of War was established in 1789 by President George Washington to oversee the young republic's military forces, primarily the Army, with naval affairs handled separately until the Navy Department was created in 1798. For over 150 years, this name symbolized American resolve through conflicts like the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. Under the War Department banner, the U.S. emerged as a global superpower, its victories in the world wars etching a legacy of triumph.