Pentagon Renames Fort Moore Amid Controversy

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the renaming of Fort Moore in Georgia back to Fort Benning, now honoring Corporal Fred G. Benning, a World War I hero, instead of Confederate General Henry L. Benning. Originally renamed in 2023 to honor Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife Julie, the base's name change was part of a broader effort to remove Confederate names from military installations. Despite Congress banning the naming of bases after Confederates, Hegseth has utilized a loophole by associating old names with new, non-Confederate figures. This move is part of Hegseth's broader agenda to reverse changes made to several military bases under a previous initiative to address racial justice concerns. Fort Moore was the first base named after a military family, recognizing the Moores' significant contributions to military service and casualty notification reforms. Critics argue that these renamings undermine the spirit of the congressional mandate aimed at eliminating Confederate honors.