From Defense to War: What’s in a Name?

Image via The Washington Post

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In 2019, Pixar contacted the Department of Defense to make the military scenes and information in their Disney film Elio more believable. What begins in children’s movies echoes in national policy. Movies like these subconsciously train us to respect the word “defense,” but what happens when the term changes to “war?”

On August 7th, 1789, President George Washington signed the Department of War into effect to oversee the military. The National Security Act of 1947 renamed it the Department of Defense, focusing on broader national security after World War II. Recently, on September 5th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed his 200th executive order since taking office, reverting the Department of Defense back to its old name: the Department of War. Currently, this is merely a secondary title. All government departments are to accept the Department of War name when it does not conflict with legal or international matters. 

This rebranding will prove to be tedious. Within 30 days of signing, the Secretary of Defense/War will submit a list of any parts of the government that should now be called the Department of War. The department will then send this list to Congress. Then, within 60 days, the Secretary of Defense/War will submit a list of actions, such as proposed legislation or executive orders, to permanently change the name, which is then sent to Congress. President Trump and the White House explain this switch in the following terms: “The Order authorizes .. the Department of Defense, and subordinate officials to use secondary titles such as ‘Secretary of War,’ ‘Department of War,’… in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial contexts, and non-statutory documents within the executive branch.”

Many people find themselves asking why? The White House’s explanation of this change is that the U.S. won the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II under the name Department of War. They believe the name ensures confidence in the military and peace through strength, demonstrating not just a capacity to defend, but a readiness to fight and win wars. The White House states this title sharpens focus, while the name Department of Defense emphasizes defense alone. When addressing this issue, President Trump details that “under the original War Department, the U.S. achieved military victories in both world wars; however, victories turned into more prolonged conflicts that often resulted in a ‘sort of tie’ once the War Department rebranded as the Defense Department.” The Secretary of Defense/War Pete Hegseth agrees, underscoring that the US hasn’t won a major war since the government changed its name to the Department of Defense.

A change like this turns heads around the world. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)—the world’s oldest defence and security think tank, founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington and based in London—signals that the Department is defined by fighting wars, not preventing them. RUSI calls the change largely ceremonial, labeling it as concerning propaganda fuel. It goes on to highlight that the new name hands America’s adversaries an easy propaganda win, allowing them to portray Washington as aggressive rather than protective. Additionally, POLITICO, a major U.S. news outlet, emphasizes that many Pentagon officials are worried and confused, especially about cost. William D. Hartung, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, concurs, stating that the rebranding will cost millions of dollars. Since the Department of Defense is covering the cost, the change raises budget concerns, as it could be seen as a distraction from real defense issues, such as troop readiness and ongoing wars abroad. 

On the contrary, some argue that this change is just what the military needs. Senator Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma and member of the Armed Services Committee, is in support of the change; he publicly praised President Trump in a social media post for “ENDING wars, not starting them,” and said​ that the renaming “reflects the seriousness of this national security mission, and a return to our military history.” Hegseth agrees, calling it part of Trump’s “warrior ethos” campaign. He argues that words and titles matter, expressing, “We’re not just defense, we’re offense. We’ve reestablished at the Department the warrior ethos. We want warriors, folks that understand how to exact lethality on the enemy. We don’t want endless contingencies and just playing defense.” 

Proponents of the title change also argue that other countries have renamed their essential government agencies; for example, the United Kingdom’s War Office changed its name to the Ministry of Defence in 1964—a transition aimed at unifying armed forces and improving coordination. However, this change signaled a shift towards the defensive end, aligning with NATO’s collective security framework and reassuring allies of a commitment to peace. The argument that the U.S. is simply following precedent falters because while the UK focused on modernization and coordination, the U.S. is dangerously emphasizing offensive capability.

Now, why does this affect the average American? Such a name change sparks concern among our allies and adversaries. Allies might question our priorities; are we focused on defense or war? Could supporting the United States mean getting dragged into unnecessary conflict? What a perfect excuse to point fingers and create false narratives for our adversaries. Our enemies love to paint the U.S. as the “bad guys.” Iran, for example, with its “Death to America” slogan, must be having a field day with this change. A shift from “Defense” to “War” only gives such a regime more ammunition. Thus, this matter is concerning for the average American, as it exacerbates the fear that our adversaries will capitalize on this change and exploit it. One can only hope that the wrong people don’t take this change out of context entirely.

Ultimately, whether symbolic or concrete, the change sparks a conversation about what it means to defend a nation in the 21st century. However, this change has been long in the works and is happening. “We’re just going to do it,” President Trump told reporters on August 25th. “I’m sure Congress will go along if we need that. I don’t think we even need that.” In the end, the return of the word War is more than a name change; it is a reminder that the language a nation chooses shapes how it sees itself and its future. 

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This article was edited by Fatimah Waqas and Angelina Bland.