Summary
President Trump announced plans to sign an executive order allowing the Department of Defense to use the title "Department of War," its original name. A formal name change would require Congress to pass new legislation. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has supported this change and made various cultural shifts within the department.
Key Facts
- President Trump plans to sign an executive order to give the Department of Defense the old name "Department of War."
- A formal name change cannot happen without new legislation from Congress.
- The Department of War was the original name when it was created in 1789 and was changed to the Department of Defense in 1947.
- Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has publicly supported the name change and conducted a social media poll on the topic.
- Hegseth has made other cultural changes at the Pentagon, including the removal of diversity programs and certain books from military libraries.
- These actions have included removing transgender troops and addressing what Hegseth sees as impacts of "woke culture" on the military.
