Executive Order "Renames" Department of Defense

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On September 5, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order making the secondary title of the Department of Defense "Department of War". The order stipulates that "The Department of Defense and the Office of the Secretary of Defense may be referred to as the Department of War and the Office of the Secretary of War," and that "The Secretary of Defense is authorized the use of this additional secondary title — the Secretary of War." The order describes this as a "secondary Department of War designation." Essentially, "Department of War," and "Secretary of War" may now be used officially by those respective entities. While this changes the secondary title, an official name change must be approved by Congress.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/restoring-the-united-states-department-of-war/

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-executive-order-rebranding-defense-department-war-department-rcna229217