The House passed a fiscal 2027 defense policy bill on July 22 that includes a provision to officially rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a move sought by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) cleared the chamber on a narrow 216-212 vote, authorizing $1.15 trillion in defense spending and pay raises of 5 to 7 percent for service members.
The renaming provision codifies what Trump initiated through an executive order in September 2025, though only Congress can make the change official. Hegseth has championed the rebrand, arguing at a press conference last fall that the administration wanted to “raise up warriors, not just defenders.” The White House praised the designation in a statement, saying it recognizes the “willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our nation.”
The Congressional Budget Office estimated in January that the renaming could cost taxpayers between $10 million for a modest implementation and $125 million if executed broadly and rapidly throughout the department. The costs would cover staff time, document updates, signage changes, and website modifications.
A Return to the Original Name
The Department of War was the original name for the military department when President George Washington signed legislation to establish it in 1789. In 1947, President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act, which restructured the military and created a National Military Establishment. Two years later, in August 1949, an amendment to the National Security Act renamed the department to the Department of Defense, reflecting the Cold War era’s focus on collective security and alliances rather than offensive military action.
Hegseth embraced the new title immediately after Trump’s executive order, changing signage around the Pentagon and referring to himself as “secretary of war” on social media and official communications. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the renaming in June 2026, signaling Republican support across both chambers.
The bill’s passage was contentious. Democrats opposed steep Pentagon spending increases and criticized the administration’s broader defense agenda, with Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, arguing the total defense-related spending approached $1.6 trillion when including separate war funding. Republicans attached provisions to the bill that drew Democratic fire, including restrictions on gender-related medical care under military health insurance and a provision to ease rules on privately owned firearms on base. The legislation also faced criticism over a section directing closer military integration with Israel, though an amendment to strip that provision failed.
Six Democrats crossed party lines to support the bill, while seven Republicans voted against it. The measure now heads to the Senate, where Democrats have shown resistance to the defense spending levels and other provisions.
Sources
- PBS News — House passage of the 2027 NDAA with Department of War renaming provision and 216-212 vote
- The Hill — House approval of the renaming, Hegseth’s advocacy, and Trump’s September 2025 executive order
- Congressional Budget Office — Cost estimates for the renaming, ranging from $10 million to $125 million
- History.com — Original establishment of the War Department in 1789 and its 1949 renaming to Department of Defense under Truman’s National Security Act
- Military Times — Historical context on why Truman changed the name in 1949
