Senate Committee Advances Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to include a provision in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, following a September 2025 executive order by President Trump and prior House approval. Supporters argue it projects strength, but critics like Senator Tim Kaine call it a "juvenile" vanity project. The Congressional Budget Office estimates costs between $10 million and $125 million. The full Senate vote is pending.
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Congressional Committees Vote to Rename Department of Defense to Department of War
Three of four U.S. congressional committees overseeing defense policy have voted to officially rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The House Appropriations Committee voted on party lines to remove all references to the Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and related entities from the 2027 spending bill. The Pentagon had already begun using 'Department of War' under a September executive order by President Trump, but only Congress can enact an official name change. The Defense Department estimates spending $51.5 million on the change by the end of the current fiscal year, while the Congressional Budget Office estimates a broader range of $10 million to $125 million for a full statutory change. Proponents argue the name better reflects the department's war-fighting mission and warrior ethos. Critics counter that the rebranding is costly, unnecessary, and deemphasizes deterrence and the department's broader role. Final approval remains months away and uncertain, but with Republican control of both chambers, the odds are rising.
Air & Space Forces MagazineCongress Advances Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
Three of four key congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, though final approval remains months away and uncertain. The House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines to amend its 2027 spending bill to remove all references to the Department of Defense in U.S. law, following similar moves by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The Pentagon began using 'Department of War' as an authorized alternative name last September after President Donald Trump issued an executive order, but only Congress can make the official change. The Pentagon submitted a legislative proposal in April, estimating it would require changing nearly 7,600 references in U.S. law. The department projects spending $51.5 million on the change by end of fiscal year 2026, while the Congressional Budget Office estimates $10 million to $125 million. Proponents argue the change better reflects the department's war-fighting mission and instills a 'warrior ethos,' while critics contend it is costly, unnecessary, and rhetorically deemphasizes deterrence. With Republican control of Congress, the chances of approval are rising.
Air & Space Forces MagazineSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to advance legislation renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, as part of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move follows a similar approval by the House Armed Services Committee a week earlier. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) criticized the rebranding as a 'juvenile move' and opposed additional funding for Middle East operations. The Department of Defense was originally known as the War Department from 1789 until 1947. Supporters argue the change projects American strength to adversaries, while critics call it an unnecessary vanity project. A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the rebrand could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. The name change was initially ordered by President Donald Trump via executive order in September 2025, and has been used informally by Pentagon officials since then.
Military TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to include a provision in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, moving the proposal closer to law. The change, supported by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has drawn criticism from Democrats including Senator Tim Kaine, who called it a 'juvenile move' that distracts from ending ongoing conflicts. The House Armed Services Committee previously approved a similar measure. The rebrand, initiated by a September 2025 executive order, could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis. Critics argue the name change is a costly vanity project that does not enhance national security, while supporters claim it projects American strength to adversaries. The Department of Defense was originally known as the War Department from 1789 until 1947.
Army TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance legislation renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, as part of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move, supported by President Trump's administration, has drawn criticism from Democrats including Senator Tim Kaine, who called it a 'juvenile move' that reflects a preference for war over diplomacy. The House Armed Services Committee had previously approved the change. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the rebranding could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. Critics argue the funds should be used for more pressing needs like lowering grocery and healthcare costs. Supporters claim the name change projects American strength to adversaries. The Department was originally called the War Department from 1789 until 1947.
Military TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to include a provision in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The move follows a similar House committee vote and an earlier executive order by President Trump. Senator Tim Kaine criticized the change as 'juvenile' and a distraction from ending Middle East conflicts. Supporters argue it projects strength to adversaries. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the rebranding could cost between $10 million and $125 million. The full Senate has yet to vote on the NDAA. The department was originally called the War Department from 1789 until 1947.
Air Force TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to advance legislation that would rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, as part of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move follows a similar approval by the House Armed Services Committee a week earlier. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) criticized the rebranding as a 'juvenile move' and opposed it due to ongoing Middle East conflicts. The name change was initiated by President Donald Trump's September 2025 executive order, and the Department of War title has already been used informally by Pentagon officials. Supporters argue it projects American strength to adversaries, while critics call it an unnecessary vanity project. A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the rebranding could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. The full Senate has yet to vote on its version of the NDAA.
Navy TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance legislation renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, as part of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move follows a similar House panel vote and an executive order by President Trump in September 2025. Senator Tim Kaine opposed the bill, calling the rebrand 'juvenile' and criticizing continued funding for Middle East wars. Supporters argue the name change projects strength to adversaries. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the rebrand could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. Critics, including Senator Jeff Merkley, call it a costly vanity project. The Department of Defense was originally the War Department from 1789 until 1947.
Air Force TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance legislation renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War as part of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move, supported by President Trump's administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has drawn criticism from Democrats including Sen. Tim Kaine, who called it a 'juvenile move' that reflects a preference for conflict over diplomacy. The Department was originally called the War Department from 1789 until 1947. A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the rebranding could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. The House Armed Services Committee had already approved the change a week earlier. The full Senate has yet to release its version of the bill.
Army TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance legislation renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, as part of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move follows a similar House panel approval and an executive order by President Trump in September 2025. Senator Tim Kaine opposed the change, calling it a 'juvenile move' that reflects a preference for war over diplomacy. Supporters argue it projects American strength to adversaries. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the rebranding could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. Critics, including Senator Jeff Merkley, called it a costly vanity project that does not improve national security or support service members. The Department of War was the original name from 1789 until 1947.
Army TimesSenate Committee Advances Bill to Rename Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to include a provision in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The move, supported by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has drawn criticism from Democrats like Senator Tim Kaine, who called it a 'juvenile move' that distracts from ending ongoing conflicts. The change would revert to the pre-1947 name and could cost taxpayers up to $125 million. The House Armed Services Committee had already approved a similar amendment. The proposal still requires full Senate and House approval to become law.
Marine Corps TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance legislation renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War as part of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move follows a September 2025 executive order by President Trump and a prior House committee approval. Senator Tim Kaine opposed the bill, calling the rebrand 'juvenile' and criticizing continued Middle East war funding. Supporters argue the name change projects American strength to adversaries. A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the rebrand could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million, drawing criticism from lawmakers who say it is a costly vanity project. The Department of War was the original name from 1789 until 1947.
Military TimesSenate committee backs Department of War name change
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance legislation renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, as part of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move follows a similar House panel approval and an executive order by President Donald Trump in September 2025. Senator Tim Kaine opposed the bill, calling the rebrand 'juvenile' and criticizing continued Middle East war funding. Supporters argue the name change projects American strength to adversaries. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the rebrand could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. Critics, including Senator Jeff Merkley, call it a 'vanity project' that does not advance national security. The Department of War was the original name from 1789 until 1947.
Navy TimesSenate Committee Advances Bill to Rename Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to include a provision in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The move, supported by President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, follows a September 2025 executive order. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) opposed the bill, calling the rebrand 'juvenile' and criticizing continued Middle East conflict. The House Armed Services Committee had already approved the change. Critics argue the rebrand is a costly vanity project, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating costs between $10 million and $125 million. Supporters claim it projects American strength to adversaries. The Department of Defense was originally called the War Department from 1789 until 1947.
Marine Corps TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to advance legislation that would rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, as part of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move follows a similar approval by the House Armed Services Committee a week earlier. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) criticized the proposal as a 'juvenile move' and opposed it due to ongoing Middle East conflicts. The name change was initiated by President Donald Trump's September 2025 executive order, and the Department of War title has already been used informally by Pentagon officials. Supporters argue it projects American strength to adversaries, while critics call it an unnecessary vanity project. A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the rebranding could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. The full Senate has yet to release its version of the NDAA.
Navy TimesSenate Committee Approves Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to advance legislation renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, as part of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The move follows a similar House committee vote and an executive order by President Trump in September 2025. Critics, including Sen. Tim Kaine, called the rebranding 'juvenile' and a distraction from ending ongoing conflicts. Supporters argue it projects American strength. A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the rebrand could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. The Department of Defense was originally known as the War Department from 1789 until 1947.
Air Force TimesSenate Committee Advances Bill to Rename Department of Defense to Department of War
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to include a provision in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The move follows a September 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump and a prior House committee approval. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) opposed the bill, calling the rebrand 'juvenile' and criticizing continued funding for Middle East conflicts. Supporters argue the name projects American strength to adversaries. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the rebrand could cost taxpayers between $10 million and $125 million. Critics, including Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), call it a costly vanity project. The Department of War was the original name from 1789 until 1947.
Marine Corps Times