What Happened
Renaming Department of Defense to Department of War Sparks Controversy
The US House of Representatives has passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The Pentagon has urged Congress to keep this language in the final version of the bill, arguing it clarifies the Department’s mission and projects strength. However, critics argue that the name change muddles the military’s mission and purpose, and could be perceived as a shift towards a more aggressive posture. The issue was first reported by Just Security.