🛡️⚔️ Turning Up the Heat: Department of Defense Becomes Department of War
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will sign an executive order on Friday to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War. The move is meant to signal a stronger, more assertive military posture—shifting from a shield to a sword.
Under the new directive, Department of War could appear as a secondary title in official correspondence, with leaders referred to as the Secretary of War. However, a complete legal renaming still requires congressional approval, keeping the change in limbo until lawmakers weigh in.
Trump and his defense secretary Pete Hegseth argue this revival taps into a bold warrior ethos that could boost morale and readiness. Critics, though, warn it risks high costs 💸 and could distract from pressing security priorities, from cyber threats to global hotspots.
Defense is too defensive, Trump said last month. And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too if we have to be. So it just sounded to me like a better name.
Historically, the Department of War was formed in 1789 to oversee the U.S. Army and steer America’s military through both world wars. It was folded into the Department of Defense in 1949 to create a unified command structure.
For now, Friday’s order is mostly symbolic. Will Congress sign off on this throwback to early U.S. history, or will the Department of Defense keep its modern identity? Stay tuned, because this saga is far from over! 🤔
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
