In a move stirring global debate, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to rename the Pentagon from the Department of Defense to the Department of War, reviving echoes of America’s military past.
U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled his decision to rename the Department of Defense, commonly known as the Pentagon, as the Department of War. The announcement has sparked widespread discussion both within the United States and internationally, as it revives the country’s historic terminology once used during the early 20th century.
The President is set to sign an executive order authorizing the change, which would also see the Secretary of Defense title altered to Secretary of War. Trump framed the proposal as a way of bringing “honesty and clarity” to the department’s role in safeguarding U.S. interests worldwide.
However, legal and procedural hurdles remain. According to foreign media, approval from the U.S. Congress is mandatory before such a structural renaming can take effect. Until Congress votes in favor, the Pentagon will continue to officially operate as the Department of Defense.
The proposal comes at a time of heightened global attention on America’s foreign policy and military engagements. Critics argue that reverting to the term “Department of War” could signal a more aggressive posture, complicating U.S. diplomacy. Supporters, however, claim it reflects transparency about the Pentagon’s true mission.
The potential renaming has also sparked comparisons with Sri Lanka’s own history of political language and governance, where shifts in terminology have often carried deeper symbolic meaning about the direction of policy. Observers suggest that symbolic gestures like this can impact how both allies and rivals perceive the U.S. in global affairs.
While the debate unfolds in Washington, the world watches closely. Should Congress approve the change, it would mark the first time in over 75 years that the U.S. military establishment reverts to being officially branded as the Department of War.
