(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to restore the name “Department of War” for the Defense Department.
According to a fact sheet released by the White House, the name will be a secondary title for the agency. Officials will be able to use titles such as secretary of war instead of secretary of defense.
The order also calls on the secretary of war to recommend legislative actions to permanently rename the department to the “Department of War.”
Republicans are already taking action towards a name change. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., and Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, have all introduced legislation that would permanently rechristen the agency.
“The United States military is not a purely defensive force. We are the most lethal fighting force on the face of the planet — ready to defeat any enemy when called upon. Restoring the name to Department of War reflects our true purpose: to dominate wars, not merely respond after being provoked. President Trump has made it clear that our nation will pursue Peace Through Strength — and we will always stand ready to defend our freedoms,” Scott said.
The renaming is a step back to the historic name for the department when it was established in 1789, not long after the end of the Revolutionary War.
The agency became the Department of Defense in 1949, consolidating several military and national security departments. The new name also reflected expanded duties that included national security and reflected a posture that put more importance on avoiding war at a time when the nuclear arms race was beginning.
Trump has said the name carries more weight in terms of readiness than the Defense Department.
Although he campaigned on staying out of global conflicts, Trump has also endorsed a peace through strength strategy. His administration has taken more offensive military actions, including a strike on Iran and the stationing of warships off the coast of Venezuela.
The president signed another executive order to allow punishments for countries wrongfully detaining Americans.
He also signed the bill that will allow Americans to buy homes without getting hassled with personal data being sold, known as the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act.
Hegseth unveils new nameplate
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has unveiled the new nameplate on his door after the rebrand.
Trump announces Florida hosting the G20 summit
Trump says the U.S. will host next year’s G20 conference in Miami, Florida.
In announcing the location, Trump noted that the U.S. hadn’t hosted the meeting of the world’s leading industrialized nations in “nearly 20 years.” He said the meeting would be held in “beautiful Miami, Florida.”
Trump says he won’t be going to the G20 in South Africa. Vice President JD Vance will be going.
Trump says Poland will be invited to the G20 next year and that he hasn’t thought about inviting Russia to the G20.
Social media accounts have been rebranded
The Pentagon made it official — the Department of Defense and Defense Secretary social media accounts have been rebranded as the Department of War and Secretary of War.
The official website name changed to “war.gov.” The website was previously “defense.gov.”
Punishments for countries wrongfully detaining Americans
The president signed another executive order to allow punishments for countries wrongfully detaining Americans.
Sen. Mitch McConnell pushes back
Sen. Mitch McConnell is pushing back on the renaming of the Department of Defense the “Department of War,” saying real strength requires more than symbolism.
“If we call it the Dept. of War, we’d better equip the military to actually prevent and win wars. Can’t preserve American primacy if we’re unwilling to spend substantially more on our military than Carter or Biden. “Peace through strength” requires investment, not just rebranding.”
Trump on if Congress will need to approve the department name change
“I’m not sure they have to, we’re going to find out…we’ll put it before Congress,” Trump said.
‘We’re going to raise up warriors, not just defenders’: Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth, who will now be known as the secretary of war, said that since the U.S. changed the name in 1947, “We haven’t won a major war since.”
Hegseth said the move is about “restoring the warrior ethos” and that the department would fight “decisively” and not “endless wars.”
That prompted Trump to blame being too politically correct and “wokey” in the past for the U.S. not having more military success.
Trump signs order to restore ‘Department of War’ title for Defense Dept.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to restore the name “Department of War” for the Defense Department.
According to a fact sheet released by the White House, the name will be a secondary title for the agency. Officials will be able to use titles such as secretary of war instead of secretary of defense.
Trump said he’d been talking about this for months. He said the pens he signed the orders with came from the company that built the B-2 bombers used in strikes on nuclear sites in Iran.
Measure limiting release of home buyer info signed into law
President Trump signs an executive order that will allow Americans to buy homes without getting hassled with personal data being sold.