Legislation, supported by President Trump, aims to reflect a more proactive and “lethal” military posture.
A new legislative effort is underway to rename the Department of Defense back to its original title, the Department of War. On Friday, Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the “Department of War Restoration Act,” a bill that seeks to permanently enshrine the name change into federal law.
The move comes as President Trump is taking executive action on the issue. RELATED: Trump To Rename The Department Of Defense By Executive Order
The senators, along with their House counterpart, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), argue that the name change is a return to tradition and a more accurate reflection of the U.S. military’s purpose. The Department of War was the official name of the military’s executive department from 1789 until 1947, when it was changed to the Department of Defense as part of the National Security Act.
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In a statement, Senator Scott emphasized the military’s role as an offensive, not just defensive, force. “The United States military is not a purely defensive force. We are the most lethal fighting force on the face of the planet — ready to defeat any enemy when called upon,” Scott said. He added that the name change “reflects our true purpose: to dominate wars, not merely respond after being provoked.”
Senator Lee echoed this, stating, “For the first 150 years of our military’s history, Americans defeated their enemies and protected their homeland under the War Department.” He expressed pride in introducing the bill to “make President Trump’s return to tradition permanent,” and sent a message to potential adversaries: “It should always be clear to anyone who would harm our people: Americans don’t just play defense.”
Congressman Steube, who has introduced a companion bill in the House, also weighed in on the matter. He highlighted the historical significance of the original name.
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“From 1789 until the end of World War II, the United States military fought under the banner of the Department of War,” Steube said. He concluded that restoring the name would “pay tribute to their eternal example and renowned commitment to lethality.”
The proposed legislation is the latest development in a broader push by some Republicans and allies of President Trump to reframe the military’s mission and image. The debate over the name change is likely to spark discussion about the nature of American military power and its role on the global stage.
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