Pentagon asks Congress to codify ‘Department of War’ name as costs exceed $50 million

Published April 28, 2026 3:24pm ET | Updated April 28, 2026 3:24pm ET



The Pentagon has asked Congress to change the name of the “Department of Defense” to the “Department of War,” while the efforts already underway to make it happen have exceeded $50 million.

This proposal, which was in a new Pentagon legislative package, calls for Congress to amend all references to “Secretary of Defense” and “Department of Defense” to “Secretary of War” and “Department of War,” respectively, in the U.S. Code as well as all derivative names. It would also update Pentagon acronyms, including “Office of the Secretary of Defense” or “OSD” to the “Office of the Secretary of War” and “OSW.”

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