According to reports from American media outlets, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign a decree on September 5 officially renaming the Pentagon from the “Department of Defense” to the “Department of War.” The move, which has already sparked intense public debate, marks one of the most symbolic shifts in U.S. military policy in decades.
Supporters of the change argue that the traditional name, “Department of War,” used before 1947, more accurately reflects the Pentagon’s true function and restores a sense of historical honesty. They claim the term “defense” was adopted during the post–World War II era to soften America’s military image but does not match the reality of its global operations. Trump himself has repeatedly criticized what he calls “political correctness” in government language, framing the renaming as a return to transparency.
Critics, however, warn that the change risks fueling perceptions of American aggression abroad at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions with Russia, China, and Iran. Military analysts note that U.S. allies may view the decision as a signal of a more confrontational foreign policy, while adversaries could seize upon the new title for propaganda purposes. Some lawmakers in Congress have already announced plans to challenge the order, arguing that such a drastic rebranding undermines decades of U.S. diplomatic strategy.
Historically, the United States operated a “Department of War” from its founding in 1789 until the National Security Act of 1947, which reorganized the military structure in the aftermath of World War II and established the Department of Defense. If enacted, Trump’s decree would effectively reverse that decision, reinstating a name that many associate with a more openly militaristic era of U.S. history.
As of now, White House officials have not provided detailed comments on the decree, but sources suggest the signing could take place during a public ceremony at the Pentagon. Whether the measure will withstand legal and political challenges remains to be seen, but the announcement has already reignited debates over America’s role in global conflicts and the language it uses to define its military power.