Trump Pushes to Rename Pentagon as Department of War, Backed by GOP Allies

The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal published Saturday.

According to Reuters, President Donald Trump first floated the idea Monday, telling reporters in the Oval Office that “Department of War” sounded “stronger” and evoked an era when, in his words, “we won everything.”

Restoring the original name of the government’s largest department would likely require congressional approval. However, White House officials are reportedly examining alternative ways to enact the change without new legislation.

Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida introduced an amendment to the annual defense policy bill that would formally change the Pentagon’s name, signaling some Republican backing for the proposal.

The White House offered few details but reinforced Trump’s remarks emphasizing a shift toward a more offensive posture for the U.S. military.

“As President Trump said, our military should be focused on offense – not just defense – which is why he has prioritized warfighters at the Pentagon instead of DEI and woke ideology,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, referencing diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The Pentagon was known as the War Department until the National Security Act of 1947 began a restructuring process that unified the Army, Navy and newly created Air Force under the National Military Establishment. In 1949, Congress officially adopted the name Department of Defense, establishing the framework that remains in place today.

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have sought to reshape the image of the armed forces, backing a more aggressive stance while purging military leaders seen as out of step with the administration. The White House has also pursued a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, arguing they are medically unfit for duty. Civil rights advocates dispute that claim, calling the policy discriminatory and unlawful.

The renaming effort underscores Trump’s broader push to redefine the Pentagon’s mission, framing the military less as a defensive shield and more as an offensive force prepared for conflict.