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Donald Trump’s Department of War re-naming plan hits its first roadblock

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds a signed executive order and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine watches — President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds a signed executive order and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine watches (AP)

An amendment to rename the US Department of Defense to the Department of War, a change advocated by Donald Trump, was rejected by the House Rules Committee.
The proposed name change, which Trump stated was to signify the United States' "strongest military," would have also renamed the Secretary of Defense to "Secretary of War."
The amendment was put forward by six Republican representatives during a session focused on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 2026 fiscal year.
Democrats' attempt to include an amendment forcing the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein was also rejected by the committee.
Additionally, a Republican-rejected amendment sought to extend the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa programme for Afghans who aided US service members.

Trump’s push to rename the Pentagon the Department of War hits a snag as Congressional committee rejects change — In full