He actually did it. Well, sorta. On September 5, 2025, Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14347, and suddenly the "Department of War" was back in the conversation for the first time since the 1940s. If you’ve seen the news lately, you’ve probably noticed the Pentagon’s official website or social media handles sporting the new (old) name. But here is the thing: if you look at the federal budget or a legal contract signed by the government, it still says "Department of Defense."
Why the split personality? It turns out that while a President has a lot of power over how a building looks or what a Secretary calls themselves, they can't just delete a name that Congress wrote into law.
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The Loophole: "Secondary Titles" vs. Legal Names
Basically, Trump used a clever workaround. Since he couldn't legally strike "Department of Defense" from the books without a vote in the House and Senate, he designated "Department of War" as a secondary title.
Think of it like a nickname that has to be taken seriously. The Executive Order (EO) instructs federal agencies to use the "War" moniker in correspondence, ceremonies, and non-statutory documents. Pete Hegseth, the current Secretary, can introduce himself as the Secretary of War at a press conference. He can put it on his business cards. He can even change the signs outside the building. But the moment he signs a check or a treaty, he's legally the Secretary of Defense.
The National Security Act of 1947 is the real obstacle here. That law—and its 1949 amendment—is what officially created the Department of Defense (DoD). Because Congress used its constitutional power to create and name the department, only Congress can officially un-name it.
What the Executive Order actually changed:
- Signage and Branding: Physical plaques, flags, and digital templates are being swapped out.
- Official Titles: Subordinate officials are authorized to use "War-style" titles in public.
- Agency Compliance: Other departments, like State or Treasury, are told to recognize the name in their emails and memos.
The Massive Price Tag of a "Vibe" Shift
You might think changing a name is as easy as "Find and Replace" in a Word doc. It isn't. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) dropped a report just a few days ago, on January 14, 2026, and the numbers are eye-watering.
Honestly, it’s a logistical nightmare. We aren't just talking about a few logos. We are talking about every single military installation, every website, every recruitment poster, and every patch on a uniform.
The CBO estimates that a "modest" rollout—mostly just sticking to the Office of the Secretary—would cost about $10 million. But if the administration goes "aggressive" and pushes the change through all defense-wide agencies (like the DIA or NSA), we are looking at **$125 million**.
Where does that money go?
- IT Systems: Updating thousands of internal databases that auto-generate forms.
- Physical Assets: Replacing flags, ceremonial materials, and building markers.
- Human Hours: Thousands of hours spent by staff just auditing what needs to be changed.
Senator Jeff Merkley and others have already started calling this a "vanity project." They argue that the money should be going toward hardware or soldier pay rather than new stationery. On the flip side, proponents argue that "Defense" is a passive word and that "War" signals a return to a more aggressive, winning posture. Hegseth himself said that the U.S. hasn't won a major war since the name was changed, so "words matter."
A Quick History of the War Department
We actually started with a Department of War. It was established in 1789. Back then, it was pretty simple: the War Department handled the Army, and the Navy had its own shop.
After World War II, the U.S. realized that having separate departments for land and sea was a mess for coordination. They tried a "National Military Establishment" in 1947, but nobody liked that name. In 1949, they landed on "Department of Defense" to house the Army, Navy, and the brand-new Air Force under one roof.
The shift was meant to reflect a new era of global stability and "defending" the peace rather than just "waging" war. Trump’s move is essentially an attempt to undo that 75-year-old psychological shift.
Can He Make It Permanent?
If Trump wants the name "Department of Defense" to actually disappear from the law books, he needs a bill. Right now, in early 2026, that seems like a tall order.
To get a permanent, statutory name change, he would need:
- A majority in the House.
- 60 votes in the Senate (to bypass a certain filibuster).
- A massive overhaul of Title 10 of the U.S. Code.
Title 10 is the giant chunk of American law that governs the military. It mentions "Department of Defense" thousands of times. A legal name change would require a "conforming amendment" for every single one of those mentions. It’s a mountain of paperwork that most members of Congress aren't exactly itching to climb, especially with other budget battles looming.
The "Warfighting" Creep
Interestingly, some agencies are already jumping the gun. The Defense Acquisition University has reportedly already rebranded itself as the Warfighting Acquisition University. It shows that even without a full law change, the "War" branding is trickling down into the bureaucracy through administrative memos.
What This Means for You
For the average person, this doesn't change much on the ground. Your local recruiter is still a recruiter. The planes still fly. But for taxpayers, it's a hundred-million-dollar question of branding.
If you’re watching this play out, keep an eye on the 2027 Budget Proposal. That’s where the "rubber meets the road." If the administration asks for specific funds to "finalize the transition to the Department of War," you’ll know they are serious about pushing Congress for a permanent fix.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
- Track the CBO reports: Watch for updated audits on how much has actually been spent by the Pentagon's comptroller.
- Monitor Title 10 amendments: If a "Defense Reauthorization Bill" hits the floor with a renaming clause, that's the moment the change could become legally permanent.
- Check official letterheads: See if your local National Guard or military contracts begin using the secondary title, which signals how far the "vibe shift" is actually penetrating the lower levels of the military.
The Department of Defense isn't gone, but it's definitely wearing a "Department of War" coat for the foreseeable future. Whether that coat becomes permanent depends entirely on if the White House can convince a divided Congress that a name change is worth the $125 million price tag.