Overview
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing the use of 'Department of War' and titles such as 'Secretary of War' in executive-branch communications.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is directed to recommend legislative and executive steps required to make the rename permanent.
- Republican lawmakers Mike Lee, Rick Scott and Greg Steube introduced bills on Friday to codify the change in federal law.
- Implementation planning includes updates to websites, signage and documents across the Pentagon and global installations, with analysts warning of potentially significant costs.
- Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, denounced the move as symbolic and wasteful, while the White House casts it as part of a broader 'warrior ethos' campaign.