The House Armed Services Committee advanced the Trump administration’s effort to rename the Department of Defense the Department of War on Thursday night, approving the annual $1.5 trillion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027 after a marathon session that lasted 14 hours.
The committee passed the legislation by a vote of 44-12. Attached to the bill was an amendment proposed by Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, a close ally of President Donald Trump, which states: “any reference to the Secretary of Defense or Department of Defense in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Secretary of War or Department of War, respectively.”
The amendment was approved on a party-line vote. Jackson celebrated his accomplishment online: “American exceptionalism is BACK! During tonight’s NDAA markup, my amendment to RESTORE the name and legacy of the Department of War passed.”
Congress established the War Department in 1789 with a secretary of war and maintained that structure until 1947. The National Security Act Amendments of 1949 permanently changed the name to the Department of Defense.
In September, Trump signed an executive order authorizing the use of “Department of War” in place of “Department of Defense.” The order stated the change would “ensure peace through strength” and demonstrate the nation’s readiness to “fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War will soon be officially restored.
Critics argue the renaming effort is largely symbolic and would incur significant costs. A Pentagon proposal from April estimated the change could cost about $52.5 million, while the Congressional Budget Office projected costs ranging from $10 million to as much as $125 million.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, dismissed concerns that the name change would strike fear in adversaries. “I wish our adversaries were that stupid,” he said. “Oh my god, the War Department! They must be serious now!”
The NDAA now heads to the full House for consideration and will be reconciled with the Senate’s version of the legislation. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized Trump’s executive order in September, comparing it to “buying new drapes when the plumbing doesn’t work.” He stated: “It’s a superficial attempt to get attention and divert the public from more pressing problems.”
