The Return of the War Department

War Department, Washington, D.C.. Washington DC Government Facilities, 19th century. Courtesy of New York Public Library Digital Collections.

When Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 5, 2025, granting the Department of Defense the secondary title of The Department of War, he touched on a subject that runs deep through American history. Although the change is largely symbolic at the moment, symbols play a large role in how the U.S. presents itself as a nation. This secondary title prompts questions regarding the American international image and the security of the nation. 

American military leadership has historically  relied on language to curate the American image as it relates to defense, beginning in 1789 when George Washington created the War Department. As a young nation, America required  portrayal   as a strong world power and  emphasized the blunt reality of fighting wars, creating a stoic image for the nation and characterizing the new country as a fighting world force. In 1947, following the Second World War and the rise of nuclear power, President Harry Truman sought a new message of peace and stability. He wanted to instill unity within the land, sea, and air forces globally. Truman oversaw the War Department’s name change to the Department of Defense after the National Security Act of 1947. This linguistic shift carried a large weight. “Defense” emphasized the protection of the U.S. while practicing restraint and acting as a guard of order. This underscores the image of a secure nation that promotes peace. 

Since 1947 the United States has existed as a stabilizing world power throughout conflicts such as the Cold War, post 9/11 operations, and the Afghanistan War. With the revival of the War Department, the narrative is reopened. Despite only being a secondary title at the moment, Trump's administration does have plans to change the name permanently in the future. For now, this is a symbolic move intended to demonstrate the power of the United States in global conflicts. Supporters of this name change include Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.  “This is not just about words, it's about warrior ethos,” declared Hegseth. Hegseth makes the point that the credibility of the U.S. as a strong and fierce world power comes from its willingness to act offensively in times of conflict. In the narrative of its supporters, the name emphasizes the idea that America is ready to fight and projects sheer dominance as a nation. 

Critics believe embracing the term war as opposed to defense will create risk for the nation. Some argue that emphasizing war will lead the U.S. to be more prone to violence internationally and domestically.Within the Pentagon, officials worry about the estimated $1 billion cost of rebranding the department dedicated to signage, international bases, and stationary. Throughout the U.S., Democrats have pointed out the contradiction that exists between Trump’s  promises of peace and the  revival  of a term of conflict. A former Department of Defense official shared that the rebrand “will be used by our enemies to portray the United States as warmongering and a threat to international stability.” While the original War Department asserted  U.S. military strength,  the Department of Defense sustained a legacy of stabilization and peace into the modern era. By bringing the term war back, the Trump administration signals how it views the role of the U.S. in foreign affairs, which may change international perception of the nation.