President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to bring back the historic “Department of War” as a secondary title for the Defense Department. The move on Friday fulfills a campaign promise that Trump has been discussing for months. The order allows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials to use titles like “Secretary of War” and “Department of War” in official communications and ceremonies.
The executive order does not officially change the department’s name. That would require approval from Congress. Instead, it makes “Department of War” a secondary title that federal agencies must recognize and use when needed. The order also instructs Hegseth to recommend both legislative and executive actions needed to make the name change permanent.
