GOP lawmakers move to officially rename Department of Defense as Department of War
Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate armed services committees have included a provision in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act to officially rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, aligning with President Donald Trump’s 2023 directive. The move faces bipartisan opposition, with Democrats arguing it is a symbolic and costly gesture, while critics warn it could be misinterpreted by adversaries like China and Russia as a provocative signal.
Republican-led committees in the U.S. House and Senate have advanced legislation to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, embedding the change in the $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act. The proposal, backed by the Trump administration, marks the closest step toward legalizing the rebranding since Trump ordered the shift nearly a year ago. While the Pentagon has already updated internal branding, including signs and email signatures, a full name change requires congressional approval. The move has drawn criticism from Democrats, who argue it is a wasteful and unnecessary rebranding effort. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Washington), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, dismissed the change as a frivolous distraction, while Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) warned it could be exploited by U.S. adversaries to portray the Pentagon as aggressive. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the rebranding could cost between $10 million and $125 million, depending on implementation scope. Supporters, including Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), argue the name better reflects the military’s mission and aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s push for a ‘warrior ethos.’ The original Department of War was established by George Washington in 1789 before being renamed the Department of Defense in 1949. The legislation also seeks to reverse Hegseth’s 2024 decision to rename Army bases in the South that had been redesignated to honor Confederate figures after Congress banned such honors in 2020. The House bill aims to restore all post-2020 names, while the Senate version targets only three Virginia bases. Both chambers previously failed to block Hegseth’s move after Trump threatened a veto in 2023. The two committee versions of the defense bill must now be reconciled before final votes, with full passage expected later this year. The proposal remains contentious, with Democrats emphasizing practical concerns over symbolic changes.
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