Trump's executive order proposes a renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War
In a move that signals a shift in U.S. military strategy, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War. This decision, intended to signal strength and victory to the world, comes amidst Trump's preference for aggressive military action, despite his criticism of "endless wars."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, now referred to as the "secretary of war," has stated that they will go on offense using maximum lethality. Hegseth, along with Trump, has been making changes at the Pentagon, sometimes bypassing legal requirements.
The change in the department's name is not a new concept, as the term "Department of War" was historically used before 1947. However, it has not been officially renamed recently. Florida Republican Rep. Greg Steube proposed legislation to formally change the name of the department.
Meanwhile, Fort A.P. Hill now honors Union soldiers Pvt. Bruce Anderson, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn, and Lt. Col. Edward Hill. Similarly, Fort Bragg now honors Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II paratrooper and Silver Star recipient from Maine.
The move to restore Confederate names at military bases, such as Fort Bragg, has been met with opposition from some Republicans in Congress. The Trump administration has changed the names of military bases that once honored Confederate leaders.
Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska criticized the Trump administration for going against Congress by restoring the old names. The amendment to remove Confederate names in this year's defense authorization bill was moved by Republicans in July.
Trump's decision to rename the department has been accompanied by a change in the Pentagon's website from "defense.gov" to "war.gov." Trump asserts that he would go ahead with the name change even if it requires an act of Congress.
Trump claims credit for resolving conflicts between various countries, such as India and Pakistan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, Hegseth has complained that the U.S. hasn't won a major war since the name was changed, and Trump said, "We never fought to win."
The Department of War was created in 1789, then renamed and reorganized in 1947. Trump has expressed a desire to restore the Department of War name since August, citing the U.S.'s history of victory when the department was named Department of War.
Trump's reshaping of the U.S. military also includes renaming bases, banning transgender soldiers, and scrubbing websites of posts honoring contributions by women and minorities. This decision has sparked controversy and debate, with some praising the president's assertiveness and others questioning the legality and morality of the changes.
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