President Trump issues decree to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War

In a move aimed at reshaping the U.S. military and signaling strength, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War. This decision comes after months of discussion and a name-changing spree at the Pentagon.

The bill to rename the department was introduced by Republican Senator Rick Scott from Florida, who urged for its swift passage. The new name, however, needs formal authorization from Congress.

The rebranding is part of Trump's efforts to uproot what he perceives as progressive ideology within the military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a statement, complained that the U.S. hasn't won a major war since the name was changed, while Trump stated, "We never fought to win."

The renaming of military bases has irked Republicans in Congress, with some moving to ban restoring any Confederate names in the defense authorization bill. Nine military bases that once honored Confederate leaders have been renamed, with the bases now honoring individuals with similar names. For instance, Fort Bragg now honors Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II paratrooper and Silver Star recipient from Maine. Fort A.P. Hill now honors Union soldiers Pvt. Bruce Anderson, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn, and Lt. Col. Edward Hill.

Trump believes that Congress will support the name change if it is necessary. He has expressed a desire to restore the Department of War name since August, stating that the change is intended to signal strength and victory. Trump has also claimed credit for resolving conflicts between various countries, such as India and Pakistan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Armenia and Azerbaijan.

However, the rebranding has faced criticism from some quarters. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has criticized the Trump administration for changing the names of military bases back to the old names, stating it is a "finger in the eye of Congress." The renaming process has been accused of bypassing legal requirements, with the Pentagon's website changing from "defense.gov" to "war.gov" without formal authorization.

Trump has favored aggressive military action, including a stealth bomber strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and the destruction of a boat off the coast of Venezuela. Hegseth stated that the rebranding will allow for going on offense with maximum lethality.

Legislation has been proposed in the House and Senate to formally change the name of the department. The success of these proposals remains to be seen, as the rebranding initiative faces opposition from some members of Congress and legal challenges.

President Trump issues decree to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War