President Trump's new executive order renames the Pentagon to the 'Department of War'

In a move that has sparked controversy and debate, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War. The decision, which was announced alongside Pete Hegseth, a close ally of the President, aims to project American military toughness around the globe.

Trump has stated that the previous name, Department of Defense, was "woke," and he wants to change it back to the Department of War because it "just sounded better." Hegseth, speaking alongside Trump, suggested that the change might lead to more wins in major wars, as the Department of War hasn't won a major war since its name was changed.

However, it's important to note that Congress has the sole power to establish, shutter, and rename federal departments. Absent a change in law, Trump will authorize the Pentagon to use the secondary title. The legislative project to rename the U.S. Department of Defense to the Department of War, supported by Trump's closest allies in Congress, requires congressional approval. Meanwhile, Trump's executive order already allows the Pentagon and related officials to use the old name "Department of War" in official correspondence and public communication.

The immediate changes are evident, with signage and website redirection from defense.gov to war.gov. This shift towards a more militaristic identity could potentially affect U.S. military doctrine and geopolitical posture.

The renaming of the military bases has been associated with Trump's efforts to uproot what he describes as "woke" ideology at the Pentagon. In this context, Fort Bragg now honours Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II paratrooper and Silver Star recipient from Maine, instead of Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg. Similarly, Fort A.P. Hill now honours Union soldiers Pvt. Bruce Anderson, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn, and Lt. Col. Edward Hill.

The move to rename the bases has irked Republicans in Congress, with Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska stating that the administration is sticking its finger in the eye of Congress by going back and changing the names to the old ones. Bacon, who co-sponsored an earlier amendment to remove the Confederate names, criticized the current administration for their actions.

The Department of War was created in 1789 and was renamed and reorganized in 1947 by President Harry Truman. The renaming of the bases was done by Hegseth despite legal requirements, as the original names were no longer allowed under law.

This decision by Trump and Hegseth is a significant shift in the American military landscape, and its implications are yet to be fully understood. As the news develops, it will be interesting to see how this change affects the U.S. military and its relations with other nations.

President Trump's new executive order renames the Pentagon to the 'Department of War'