Pentagon name change costs billions amid economic crisis in America.
The Pentagon’s name change estimate comes as Trump vows to slash federal spending. He has signed a raft of sweeping cuts to government agencies since taking office.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsett specifically plans to cut thousands of military and civilian jobs at the Pentagon as part of his effort to overhaul the department’s budget and focus on what he calls “lethality” and “warrior ethics.”
“In the Trump administration, we are restoring the pride and spirit of the American military,” Trump said in a Veterans Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday. “That’s why we are officially changing the name of the Department of Defense back to its original name, the Department of War.”
The Department of War is currently a secondary title for the Department of Defense, not the official name of the department. Trump did not indicate that the official name change would require congressional approval, but he believes the Department of War will better convey the message that the United States is prepared to “fight to win.”
Trump first proposed the Pentagon name change in early September when he signed an executive order authorizing Hegsett to use the title “Secretary of War” and the term “Department of War” in official correspondence and public communications.
Trump’s new order set two deadlines, 30 days after signing it and 60 days after that, for the necessary documents to be submitted to the National Security Council and the formal, legal process of congressional review to begin.
Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly did not discuss the deadlines but said that under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of War, now appropriately named, is focused on readiness and offensive capability, and the new title reflects its position as the world’s most powerful fighting force.
After the executive order was signed, the Pentagon quickly changed its website address and social media accounts to show the name “Department of War” instead of “Department of Defense.”
Hegsett also changed the sign outside his office to read “Office of the Secretary of War.” However, many signs remain unchanged, including the sign over one of the Pentagon’s doors, which still reads “Department of Defense.”