Trump Plans Department of Defense Rename to Department of War

President Donald Trump has proposed renaming the Department of Defense back to its original title, the Department of War, arguing that the term 'defense' sounds weak and that the U.S. should emphasize both defense and offense to win wars. This suggestion was made during a Monday Oval Office event where Trump, joined by members of his Cabinet including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, invited a vote on the change, with Hegseth indicating the change could happen soon. The original War Department was established in 1789 under President George Washington and was renamed the Department of Defense in 1949 during a post–World War II reorganization. On the same day, Trump signed executive orders targeting American flag burning by prioritizing related prosecutions and addressing cashless bail in Washington, D.C., amid broader efforts to combat crime and homelessness. Plans to deploy National Guard members to Chicago, mirroring the military presence in D.C., have faced opposition from local officials who view it as federal overreach. Any formal renaming of the Department of Defense would require congressional approval, and the flag-burning directive may face legal challenges due to First Amendment protections.