Real reason why Trump wants to rename Pentagon in controversial military move

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Friday, September 5, to rename the Department of Defense to the "Department of War."

The commander-in-chief and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently indicated they want to change the name of the agency. It marks one of many initiatives the Trump administration has taken up as part of its "warrior ethos" campaign. 

Pentagon to be renamed as 'Department of War'

Fox News reported on Thursday that a White House official confirmed Donald Trump would roll out the name change on Friday.

The executive order calls for using "Department of War" as a secondary name for the Department of Defense, along with phrases such as "secretary of war" for Pete Hegseth, according to a White House fact sheet. 

The POTUS told reporters on August 25, "We call it the Department of Defense, but between us, I think we’re gonna change the name."

"We won the World War 1, World War 2 - it was called the Department of War, and to me, that’s really what it is. Defense is a part of that, but I have a feeling we’re gonna be changing," he added.

The executive order also instructs Hegseth to propose both legislative and executive actions to make the name "Department of War" a permanent one.

If the order is implemented, it would need modifications to public-facing websites and office signage at the Pentagon, which include renaming the public affairs briefing room the "Pentagon War Annex," a White House official told Fox News.

Meanwhile, the official added that other longer-term projects are also in the works. 

Pete Hegseth says change would reflect a cultural shift within Pentagon

Pete Hegseth said the change would reflect a broader cultural shift within the Pentagon.

In an interview with 'Fox & Friends' on Wednesday, Hegseth said, "We won WWI, and we won WWII, not with the Department of Defense, but with a War Department, with the Department of War. As the president has said, we're not just defense, we're offense."

"We've reestablished at the Department the warrior ethos. We want warriors, folks that understand how to exact lethality on the enemy. We don't want endless contingencies and just playing defense. We think words and names and titles matter. So, we're working with the White House and the president on it. Stand by," he added.

The US took the "Department of War" title for its military agency until 1949, and was renamed the Department of Defense following a series of massive reforms included in the National Security Act of 1947.

Meanwhile, it’s unclear whether Congress, which holds the authority to form federal executive departments, would step in to issue final approval on the move.

However, Trump had earlier voiced confidence that he doesn't need approval from lawmakers, adding that they would get on board if necessary.