Senators, Representatives Introduce Bill Restoring Department of War Name

President Trump supports legislative efforts to rename the Department of Defense back to its original title, the Department of War, a move proposed to reflect a more assertive and historically rooted military posture. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rick Scott (R-FL), along with Representative Greg Steube (R-FL), introduced the Department of War Restoration Act to codify this change into federal law, also renaming the Secretary of Defense to Secretary of War. Proponents argue the original name better captures the U.S. military's offensive capabilities and tradition of victory, emphasizing that Americans "don't just play defense." The name change aims to honor the military legacy from 1789 until 1947 and send a clear message of deterrence to potential adversaries. President Trump highlighted that the military had an "unbelievable history of victory" under the Department of War name, which was changed to Department of Defense after World War II to reflect a broader strategy including deterrence and diplomacy. While the White House considered an executive order to rename the department, making the change permanent requires congressional approval through the introduced bill.