President Donald J. Trump’s renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War hit an early snag when an amendment that would have legally cleared the way failed to make it into a massive defense spending bill currently making its way through Congress.
The amendment, which was sponsored by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), was included in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act but didn’t make the cut after it was rejected by the Rules Committee on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.
Last week, the president signed an executive order to revert DoD back to its official name from 1789 to 1947, but Congress still must pass legislation to formalize the rebranding. Steube sought to speed the process with his amendment to “codify President Trump’s executive order.”
“Restoring the Department of War title to our military is the right move. @SenMikeLee, @SenRickScott and I have already filed legislation that will codify President Trump’s executive order,” the Florida Republican wrote in a Friday post to X. “Let’s make it happen.”
Restoring the Department of War title to our military is the right move. @SenMikeLee, @SenRickScott and I have already filed legislation that will codify President Trump’s executive order.
Let’s make it happen. https://t.co/ZqQL2wTsM6
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) September 5, 2025
But unfortunately, it’s not going to happen quickly after the amendment which simply sought to replace “Department of Defense” with “Department of War” and replacing “Secretary of Defense” with “Secretary of War” in “any law, rule, regulation, certificate, directive, instruction, or other official paper in force” didn’t pass muster with the Rules Committee which left it on the cutting room floor.
“I think the Department of War sends a signal,” Trump said from the Oval Office last week, adding that it is a “much more appropriate name, especially in light of where the world is right now.”
“We could have won every war, but we really chose to be very politically correct, or wokey, and we just fight forever,” he added.
TRUMP on the reason behind the Department of War name change:
“Really, it has to do with winning. We should have won every war. We could have won every war, but we really chose to be very politically correct — or wokey.” pic.twitter.com/LcDsa0Y9pV
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 5, 2025
“We’re gonna go on offense, not just on defense,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during the signing event. “Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We’re gonna raise up warriors, not just defenders.”
“The Founders chose this name to signal our strength and resolve to the world. 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,” Trump said in the executive order directing the name change.
“This name sharpens the Department’s focus on our own national interest and our adversaries’ focus on our willingness and availability to wage war to secure what is ours,” he added.
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