Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has leaned heavily on executive orders as a means of advancing his agenda, signing them at a rate that is second only to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. On Friday, the president signed his 200th order, renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
Under the largely symbolic order—which could cost taxpayers over $1 billion—the legal name of the agency will remain the same, as will its budget, structure, and overall function.
The president claims the decision is part of a broader effort to reject what he sees as "woke" ideology, opining that the original 1949 name change to Department of Defense was reflective of postwar softness and political correctness. He added that the name change would remind people of past military victories, including the World Wars, which, combined, resulted in the deaths of well over 500,000 American soldiers.
"The name 'Department of War,' more than the current 'Department of Defense, ensures peace through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment's notice, not just to defend," Friday's order reads.
