US House votes to rename Defense Department 'Department of War'

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The US House of Representatives approved renaming the Defense Department back to the "Department of War" as part of its annual defense policy bill for fiscal year 2027. The measure, part of the National Defense Authorization Act, now heads to the Senate for approval. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had called for restoring the department's historical name, saying the Trump administration sought to "celebrate warriors, not defenders." The department carried the "Department of War" name until President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act in 1947. President Donald Trump issued an executive order in September supporting the change and directed Hegseth to update the official name on the department's website and social media accounts. Because a formal name change requires congressional approval, the legislation was sent to the Senate. The bill drew debate in Congress over an attempt to strip an oversight provision related to military cooperation with Israel, a change that was ultimately removed from the final text. Six Democrats voted with Republicans on the measure, while seven Republicans voted against it.