House, Senate Panels Advance $125 Million Department of War Renaming in Defense Bills
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 24
House, Senate Panels Advance $125 Million Department of War Renaming in Defense Bills
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 24
Summary
House and Senate Armed Services Committees voted along party lines to add Trump’s Department of War renaming to their annual defense authorization bill drafts, moving the change closer to a full congressional fight.
Republicans said reviving the pre-1947 name would project a stronger military and “warrior ethos,” while Democrats argued it undercuts deterrence and could waste up to $125 million on signs, stationery and other changes.
Pete Hegseth has already adopted the title Secretary of War and begun changing Pentagon branding after Trump signed a September executive order authorizing use of the name without formal congressional approval.
The committee action lands inside a broader clash over Trump’s record $1.5 trillion defense request, with Republicans also adding culture-war riders and rejecting Democratic limits on troop policy, promotions and National Guard deployment.