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Coverage dated August 24, 2025 to August 25, 2025

Trump considers renaming Defense Department to 'Department of War'

Headline from Fox32 Chicago

The president cited war victories while addressing the possible name change for the Department of Defense.

Fox32 Chicago's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Read the reports

Reports & sources

18 articles, oldest first.

  1. Forbes

    President Donald Trump Wants To Rename DoD To The Department Of War (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    In a social media poll from March, a majority of Americans favored renaming the Department of Defense to Department of War

  2. Military Times

    Trump, Hegseth float renaming Defense Department to Department of War (opens Military Times)

    Published

    Military Times's feed description

    The military bureaucracy has used the Department of Defense name for 76 years, but President Trump said he doesn't like the title.

  3. RedState

    Trump Calls for Pentagon Officials to Vote on Renaming the Department of Defense the 'Department of War' (opens RedState)

    Published

    RedState's feed description

    Trump advocates renaming the Department of Defense to the

  4. Newsweek

    Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth ready to change Defense Department's name (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    The Pentagon carried the Department of War label until 1949, when it was rebranded amid post–World War II restructuring.

  5. CBS News

    Trump floats changing Defense Department to Department of War: (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    President Trump on Monday floated returning the Department of Defense to its prior name, the Department of War, calling its current moniker "too defensive."

  6. News Nation Now

    Trump pushes to rename Department of Defense the ‘Department of War’ (opens News Nation Now)

    Published

    News Nation Now's feed description

    President Donald Trump says he hopes to rename the Department of Defense the "Department of War."

  7. Washington Examiner

    Trump and Hegseth look to rename Defense Department as 'Department of War' (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    President Donald Trump backed the Department of War name change, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it's "coming soon."

  8. The Hill

    Trump says he could rename Department of Defense to Department of War soon (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    President Trump considers renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War, citing historical victories and potential for change.

  9. Townhall

    Is the Department of Defense About to Get a New Name? (opens Townhall)

    Published

    Townhall's feed description

    President Trump hints at renaming the Department of Defense to Department of War.

  10. Fox News

    Renamed Department of Defense coming ‘soon,' Trump says (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    President Donald Trump said he has a "feeling we're going to be changing" the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, possibly over the next week.

  11. Fox32 Chicago

    Trump considers renaming Defense Department to 'Department of War' (opens Fox32 Chicago)

    Published

    Fox32 Chicago's feed description

    The president cited war victories while addressing the possible name change for the Department of Defense.

  12. New York Post

    Trump floats changing Defense Department back to ‘Department of War’ (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    "We're just going to do it. I'm sure Congress will go along if we need that," Trump said. "'Defense' is too defensive. We want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive, too if we have to be."

  13. Anchorage Daily News

    Trump wants another ‘Department of War.’ Here’s why it’s not called that anymore. (opens Anchorage Daily News)

    Published

    Anchorage Daily News's feed description

    The Department of War was renamed the Department of Defense under President Harry S. Truman, who aimed to improve efficiency and cohesion in the U.S. military.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.