Hosted on MSN

How the War Department became the Department of Defense – and back again

This article appeared in History of War magazine issue 153. In September 2025 President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense to the 'Department of War', reverting ...
Military Times

Why Truman changed the ‘War Department’ to the ‘Department of Defense’

President Harry S. Truman signing the National Security Act Amendments of 1949, which converted the National Military Establishment into a new Department of Defense. (National Archives) During a White ...
Military.com

The Department of War? Not Legally – What Trump’s Executive Order Really Does

In early September 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the DoD and its leaders may use the names “Department of War” and “Secretary of War” in certain contexts. The ...
Washington Examiner

What’s in a name? The Department of Defense becomes the Department of War

“The name ‘Department of War’ conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to ‘Department of Defense,’ which emphasizes only defensive capabilities,” the text of the order states. The ...
Hosted on MSN

House defense bill ignores Trump’s 'Department of War' name change

The final version of the National Defense Authorization Act has been released and it appears that the Department of Defense and it's department head will not undergo name changes after all. The NDAA ...