Department of war: Trump to revive pre-1947 name for the Pentagon; here is the backstory

President Donald Trump is going to sign an executive order to change the name of the Department of Defense to the ‘Department of War’, reviving a name that was abandoned during a 1947 Cabinet reorganization, according to Fox News. A White House official confirmed to the outlet that Trump would roll out the name change Friday, September 5. The president had suggested the change during remarks to reporters on Monday, Aug. 25.

“It used to be called the Department of War, and it had a stronger sound,” Trump said. “And as you know, we won World War I; we won World War II. We won everything,” as quoted by USA Today.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reposted Fox News' X post on its report, with the comment: "DEPARTMENT OF WAR."

Department of war backstory

Congress established the War Department in 1789 as a cabinet-level position to oversee the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. In 1947, the Navy and War Departments were merged into the National Military Establishment. The US Air Force was formally established later that year. In 1949, the National Military Establishment became the Department of Defense. The cabinet-level Army, Navy and Air Force secretaries were replaced by the new secretary of defense.

FAQs

What was the Department of War?

The Department of War was a US cabinet-level agency established in 1789 to oversee the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. It managed America’s military affairs for more than 150 years before being reorganized in 1947.

Why was the name changed to the Department of Defense?

In 1947, following World War II, Congress merged the War and Navy Departments into the National Military Establishment to better coordinate the Army, Navy, and newly formed Air Force. By 1949, this was renamed the Department of Defense to emphasize national security rather than purely combat.