Department of War – In September 2025, the United States government executed one of the most symbolically significant rebrandings in modern federal history, restoring the name Department of War to what had been known as the Department of Defense for nearly eight decades. This guide walks through the full story behind the name change, who leads the department today, what it actually does, and answers to the most common questions people are asking about this historic shift.
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What Is the Department of War?
The Department of War is the current operating name for the United States' primary military and national security agency, historically known as the Department of Defense (DOD). According to its own mission statement, the Department of War provides the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of the United States, overseeing the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, US Marine Corps, US Space Force, and Coast Guard (during wartime), along with the broader defense bureaucracy that supports them.
Importantly, "Department of War" is currently a secondary title rather than the department's full legal name. The underlying statutory name remains "Department of Defense," since only an act of Congress can formally and permanently change a federal department's legal designation.
Chronology: How the Department of War Name Change Happened
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1789 | The original U.S. War Department is established, serving as the country's primary military department for the next 158 years. |
| 1947 | Following World War II, Congress passes the National Security Act, which restructures the military establishment and eventually leads to the creation of the Department of Defense, replacing the historic "War Department" name. |
| August 25, 2025 | President Trump tells reporters at the White House that his administration is "gonna change the name" of the Department of Defense, signaling the move publicly for the first time. |
| September 5, 2025 | President Donald J. Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office, formally titled "Restoring the United States Department of War" (Executive Order 14347), directing that the Department of Defense adopt "Department of War" as a secondary title. |
| September 5, 2025 | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is present at the signing and begins using the title "Secretary of War" in public communications, calling the change part of "restoring the warrior ethos." |
| September 2025 | The department's official website is rebranded, with its URL changed from defense.gov to war.gov, and the Pentagon's public briefing room is renamed the "Pentagon War Annex." |
| Late 2025–2026 | The department continues using "Department of War" and "Secretary of War" across official press releases, contracts, and public communications, while the legal name "Department of Defense" remains in effect for statutory purposes pending possible congressional action. |
Why Was the Department of War Renamed?
The rationale behind the name change centers on a specific historical argument made by both President Trump and Secretary Hegseth: that the United States achieved its greatest military victories, including both World Wars, while the department was still called the "War Department," and that renaming it "Department of Defense" in 1947 coincided with what they characterize as a less assertive military posture.
At the signing ceremony, President Trump stated that the name change reflected a desire to move away from what he described as a "woke" institutional identity and return to a name he associated with historical military success. Secretary Hegseth echoed this framing, describing the rename as being "about restoring... the warrior ethos, restoring victory and clarity as an end state, restoring intentionality to the use of force," and stating that the department would prioritize "maximum lethality, not tepid legality."
Key stated goals behind the rename include:
- Signaling a shift toward what officials describe as a more offense-oriented military posture
- Emphasizing decisive victory as the intended outcome of any future conflict, rather than prolonged engagement
- Reconnecting the department's public identity with the historical period associated with America's major 20th-century military victories
- Reinforcing what Trump administration officials have called a broader "warrior ethos" campaign across the military
Secretary of War: Who Leads the Department of War?
The current Secretary of War is Pete Hegseth, who was sworn in as the 29th Secretary of Defense on January 25, 2025, at age 44, and began using the "Secretary of War" title following the September 2025 executive order. Before his appointment, Hegseth was best known as a Fox News host and co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, as well as an author of several books on military and political themes.
Hegseth's path to the position combined military service, veterans' advocacy, and media work:
- 2003: Commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton University
- Military deployments: Served overseas in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, as well as combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2021
- Military honors: Earned two Bronze Star Medals and a Combat Infantryman Badge for his service
- Post-service career: Led veterans' advocacy organizations including Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America, before transitioning into conservative media as a Fox News contributor and host
- Education: Earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in 2013
- November 2024: Nominated by President-elect Trump to serve as Secretary of Defense
- January 2025: Confirmed and sworn in, later adopting the "Secretary of War" title following the September 2025 executive order
Is Pete Hegseth a Combat Veteran?
Yes — Hegseth's military record confirms combat deployments and combat-related honors. He served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and holds a Combat Infantryman Badge along with two Bronze Star Medals.
That said, some critics and defense analysts have pointed out that his roles during deployment, including advisory and civil-affairs work, differ somewhat from front-line infantry combat command experience, and there has been public debate over how his specific record should be weighed when evaluating his qualifications for leading the department.
His supporters, including veterans' organizations, have defended his record as substantive and directly relevant to his current role.
Department of War Logo and Branding Changes
Alongside the name change, the department has updated several key elements of its public-facing identity:
- The official website was migrated from defense.gov to war.gov
- A new Department of War logo and visual branding began appearing across official communications and signage
- The Pentagon's press briefing room was renamed the "Pentagon War Annex"
- Official Releases — statements, press releases, and announcements — are now published under the Department of War name, covering everything from major weapons contracts to policy updates
- The department's presence on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms was updated to reflect the new branding
Department of War UFO Disclosure Program
One notable area of ongoing department activity under the new branding involves Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to by the public as UFOs. Since 2026, the department has been releasing declassified files related to historical UAP encounters through a coordinated program involving multiple federal agencies, hosted at war.gov. This disclosure effort represents one of several ongoing transparency initiatives the department has continued to pursue under its new name and leadership.
Department of Defense vs. Department of War: What's the Actual Difference?
| Aspect | Department of Defense | Department of War |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Status | Official statutory name, established by Congress in 1947 | Secondary title, established via executive order |
| Requires Congressional Action? | Already in effect as legal name | Yes, for full permanent legal change |
| Website | Previously defense.gov | Currently war.gov |
| Leader's Title | Secretary of Defense | Secretary of War (secondary title) |
| Used In | Legal, statutory, and official government documents where required by law | Public communications, press releases, branding, non-statutory documents |
Contact Information and Public Resources
For members of the public seeking to reach the department, official channels remain available through the war.gov website. This includes a general Contact Us page for public and press inquiries, as well as a dedicated channel to report a technical issue with war.gov for anyone encountering website problems, routed through the department's Technical Support and Public Affairs teams.
Department of War – FAQs
Is the DOD now the Department of War?
Functionally, yes, in terms of public branding — but not in a full legal sense. Following the September 5, 2025 executive order, "Department of War" serves as an official secondary title for the Department of Defense, used across public communications, the department's website (war.gov), and official releases. However, the department's actual statutory legal name remains "Department of Defense," since changing that would require an act of Congress rather than an executive order alone.
Why was Department of War renamed?
The department was originally renamed from "War Department" to "Department of Defense" in 1947, following the National Security Act passed after World War II. In September 2025, President Trump reversed that branding, citing a belief that the "War Department" name better reflected the era of America's major historical military victories, including both World Wars.
Secretary Hegseth has framed the 2025 change as part of "restoring the warrior ethos" and shifting the department's posture toward what officials describe as more decisive, offense-oriented military strategy.
Is the Department of War still active?
Yes. As of 2026, the Department of War continues to operate as the active secondary title for the Department of Defense, publishing official releases, managing defense contracts, and overseeing U.S. military operations under this branding.
The department's core functions — providing and overseeing U.S. military forces — remain unchanged; only the public-facing name and title conventions have shifted.
Is Pete Hegseth a combat veteran?
Yes. Pete Hegseth served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard, with confirmed deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and holds a Combat Infantryman Badge along with two Bronze Star Medals for his service.
He served in the National Guard across multiple periods between 2003 and 2021 before transitioning into veterans' advocacy and media work, eventually being appointed Secretary of Defense (now using the title Secretary of War) in January 2025.
Department of War – Key Takeaways
- President Trump signed Executive Order 14347 on September 5, 2025, establishing "Department of War" as a secondary title for the Department of Defense.
- The name change restores a historical designation last used before 1947, when Congress created the Department of Defense following World War II.
- Pete Hegseth, a combat veteran of the Army National Guard, serves as the current Secretary of War, a title he adopted following the executive order.
- The department's official website was migrated from defense.gov to war.gov, alongside broader branding changes including a new logo and renamed briefing room.
- The "Department of War" name remains a secondary title; the department's full legal name change would require congressional approval.
- The department continues its full range of operations under this new branding, including ongoing UAP disclosure efforts and regular defense contract and policy announcements.