RESTORING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF WAR
Executive Orders
September 5, 2025

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. On August 7, 1789, 236 years ago, President George Washington signed into law a bill establishing the United States Department of War to oversee the operation and maintenance of military and naval affairs. It was under this name that the Department of War, along with the later formed Department of the Navy, won the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II, inspiring awe and confidence in our Nation’s military, and ensuring freedom and prosperity for all Americans. The Founders chose this name to signal our strength and resolve to the world. The name “Department of War,” more than the current “Department of Defense,” ensures peace through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice, not just to defend. This name sharpens the Department’s focus on our own national interest and our adversaries’ focus on our willingness and availability to wage war to secure what is ours. I have therefore determined that this Department should once again be known as the Department of War and the Secretary should be known as the Secretary of War.

Sec. 2. Implementation. (a) The Secretary of Defense is authorized the use of this additional secondary title — the Secretary of War — and may be recognized by that title in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial contexts, and non-statutory documents within the executive branch.

(b) The Department of Defense and the Office of the Secretary of Defense may be referred to as the Department of War and the Office of the Secretary of War, respectively, in the contexts described in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The provisions of this section shall also apply, as appropriate, to subordinate officials within the Department of Defense, who may use corresponding secondary titles such as Deputy Secretary of War or Under Secretary of War in the contexts described in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) All executive departments and agencies shall recognize and accommodate the use of such secondary titles in internal and external communications, provided that the use of such titles does not create confusion with respect to legal, statutory, or international obligations.

(e) Statutory references to the Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense, and subordinate officers and components shall remain controlling until changed subsequently by the law.

(f) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War shall submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, a notification for transmittal to the Congress of any office, executive department or agency, component, or command that begins using a secondary Department of War designation.

(g) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War shall submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, a recommendation on the actions required to permanently change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This recommendation shall include the proposed legislative and executive actions necessary to accomplish this renaming.

Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of War.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

September 5, 2025.

“Secondary title.” Performative bullshit. And expensive, too.

The reviews (and sarcasm) are in:

Captain Mark Kelly‬ ‪@captmarkkelly.bsky.social‬
Only someone who avoided the draft would want to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
[….]

Mehdi Hasan‬ ‪@mehdirhasan.bsky.social‬
The ‘antiwar’ president today tried to rename the Department of Defense the Department of War.

Can’t make this stuff up.

‪Adam Kinzinger‬ ‪@adamkinzinger.substack.com‬

Department of war? More like Department of Distraction…. Epstein
[….]

‪Jeff Tiedrich‬ ‪@jefftiedrich.bsky.social‬

because nothing says ‘I deserve the Nobel Peace Prize’ more than renaming your Department of Defense to the Department of War

Chris Hayes‬ ‪@chrislhayes.bsky.social‬

If there were a “Department of War” it would obviously be very very small when we aren’t at war, right?

Randi Mayem Singer‬ ‪@rmayemsinger.bsky.social‬

Bragging that you ended 7 wars… and then changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War seems incongruous.

Roberto Baldwin‬ ‪@strngwys.bsky.social‬

Important to remember that everyone involved in renaming the DoD to the Department of War is afraid to take the subway.

And that children, is why there are now Federal troops in Washington, D.C.

‪D. Earl Stephens‬ ‪@dearlstephens.bsky.social‬

A draft-dodger renaming the Defense Department the Department of War screams complete inadequacy.

Hoodlum ‪@nothoodlum.bsky.social‬

Pro tip: If you’ve spent the last decade begging for a Nobel Peace Prize, maybe don’t rebrand the Defense Department as the Department of War. Not exactly a winning strategy.

Joshua Erlich‬ ‪@joshuaerlich.bsky.social‬

so Department of War is more like a nickname. like, DOD’s teacher wouldn’t be allowed to call it Department of War in Florida.
[…]

Heh.

‪Governor Jay Inslee‬ ‪@govjayinslee.bsky.social‬

Also renaming the Department of Health and Human Services, the
“Department of War on Vaccines.”
[….]

Ouch.

‪Will Bunch‬ ‪@willbunch.bsky.social‬

You wouldn’t rename it the Department of War unless you were thinking of starting one soon

‪Adam Schwarz‬ ‪@adamjschwarz.bsky.social‬

Pete Hegseth says the Trump administration is restoring the name of Department of War because the US “hasn’t won a major war since” it was renamed the Department of Defence.

These people are breathtakingly stupid.
[….]

And so are their voters.

‪Ido Amir‬ ‪@idoamir.bsky.social‬

If you squint really hard you can see “Department of War” ACTUALLY reads “Lowering Egg Prices”.

‪gwen howerton‬ ‪@kissphoria.bsky.social‬

Please do not deadname the Department of War

‪Bill Kristol‬ ‪@billkristolbulwark.bsky.social‬

Trump’s policies are leading us into recession, he’s kicking people off of health insurance and denying them vaccines, he’s destroying the rule of law, he’s being played for a fool by Putin..but he’s going to call the Department of Defense the Department of War! America is great again!

Pathetic.

Anthony Michael Kreis‬ ‪@anthonymkreis.bsky.social‬

I would be okay with a Department of War if we also had an Under-Secretary of Sea Shanties.

“Hic sunt dracones.”

‪Raffi Melkonian‬ ‪@rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social‬

Department of War is the kind of thing I’d have thought was extremely cool when I was 10 and playing with little green army men.

Bingo!

‪Rocky Mountain Mike‬ ‪@rockymntnmike.bsky.social‬

Renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War! What is it good for?

Absolutely nothing.

Elect a clown, expect a circus.