In a bold move to dismantle the pervasive doublespeak that has clouded American discourse since the post-World War II era, President Donald Trump, alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, has taken a significant step by proposing to rename the Department of Defense (DOD) as the Department of War. This initiative aims to strip away the sanitized language that has obscured the true nature of the Pentagon’s operations. Since 1947, when the National Security Act rebranded the War Department as the Department of Defense, the terminology has often served as a veneer, masking the reality of America’s extensive military engagements driven by economic and geopolitical interests. By calling it the Department of War, Trump and Hegseth seek to confront the nation with an unfiltered truth, cutting through the Orwellian Newspeak that has softened the perception of military actions, from interventions in Vietnam to the Middle East, which have frequently prioritized strategic dominance over pure defense.

The Pentagon, as the nerve center of America’s military-industrial complex, embodies the characteristics of a war-driven institution more than a defensive one. Its sprawling budget, which for 2025 exceeds $850 billion, fuels a vast ecosystem of defense contractors, lobbyists, and economic interests that thrive on perpetual conflict and global military presence. The term “Department of Defense” implies a reactive, protective stance, yet the U.S. has maintained an offensive posture in numerous conflicts, from Iraq to Afghanistan, often justified under vague notions of “national security.” Renaming it the Department of War forces a reckoning with this reality, acknowledging that the institution orchestrates campaigns that shape global power dynamics, often prioritizing economic gains for the defense industry over the altruistic defense of the homeland. This shift in nomenclature is not merely symbolic but a call to align language with action, fostering a culture of honesty about America’s role on the world stage.

Within the Pentagon, there are still dedicated individuals—soldiers, strategists, and civilians—who strive to uphold the honorable principles of service, sacrifice, and protection for which the military was founded. These men and women work tirelessly to ensure that operations align with the nation’s core values, despite the overarching machinery that often pulls in a different direction. Their efforts deserve recognition, as they navigate a complex system to maintain integrity and purpose. Trump and Hegseth’s push to rename the DOD as the Department of War is not a critique of these individuals but a salute to their struggle against a system that has long cloaked its intentions in misleading rhetoric. By embracing this starkly honest title, the administration aims to honor those who keep the faith while challenging the nation to confront its military’s true role and purpose with unflinching clarity.