This executive order authorizes—but does not require—the reintroduction of the historical name "Department of War" as a secondary designation for the Department of Defense, framing this change as a return to the nomenclature used from the nation's founding until the mid-20th century. The order characterizes the original name as embodying a "peace through strength" doctrine that the administration believes more accurately reflects the department's mission than the current "Defense" designation. According to the order's stated rationale, the name "Department of War" was used during major American military victories including the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II, and the Founders selected it to "signal our strength and resolve to the world." The order claims the historical name will "sharpen the Department's focus on our own national interest" and signal to adversaries "our willingness and availability to wage war to secure what is ours," representing a rhetorical shift toward more assertive framing of military capabilities. Critically, this is a naming change only: all legal authorities, missions, chain of command, rules of engagement, budgeting processes, and ongoing operations remain entirely unchanged.
The order establishes a dual-naming system rather than an immediate statutory change. The Secretary of Defense is authorized to use the secondary title "Secretary of War," and the department may be referred to as the "Department of War" in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial contexts, and non-statutory executive branch documents. This secondary designation extends to subordinate officials, who may use corresponding titles such as Deputy Secretary of War or Under Secretary of War. All executive departments and agencies are directed to recognize these secondary titles in communications, provided they do not create confusion regarding legal, statutory, or international obligations. The order specifies that existing statutory references to the Department of Defense and related offices remain legally controlling until changed by subsequent legislation, meaning the renaming is currently limited to non-statutory contexts. Absent legislative action and updates to applicable instruments, the statutory "Department of Defense" designation will generally continue to govern in treaties, NATO alliance documents, host-nation agreements, defense contracts, and other binding international contexts, limiting where the "War" title can be practically applied. The order's assertive rhetoric may be interpreted by allies and adversaries as signaling a shift in U.S. declaratory policy or use-of-force posture, though no such substantive policy change is made.
Implementation responsibilities fall primarily to the Secretary of Defense. Within 30 days of the order's September 5, 2025, issuance, the Secretary must submit notification to the President, through the National Security Advisor, identifying any offices, components, or commands adopting the secondary Department of War designation for subsequent transmittal to Congress. Within 60 days, the Secretary must provide recommendations on actions required to permanently rename the department, including proposed legislative and executive measures. The order includes standard provisions clarifying it does not impair existing agency authorities or create enforceable rights, and specifies that implementation costs, including publication expenses, shall be borne by the Department of War itself. The phased approach suggests the administration anticipates potential legislative action to make the name change statutory and permanent beyond the ceremonial and communicative contexts currently authorized.