The House Armed Services Committee voted on Thursday to advance an amendment to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War as part of the $1.15 trillion fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment, proposed by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), was approved along party lines with a vote of 44-12 after over 14 hours of debate and consideration of approximately 900 amendments.
Former President Donald Trump initially proposed the name change last fall, stating that 'Department of War' better reflects a military focused on conflict. War Secretary Pete Hegseth has supported the initiative, using the title 'Secretary of War' despite the department's legal name remaining unchanged until Congress approves the amendment.
Opponents of the name change argue that it is largely symbolic and could incur significant costs, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating the renaming could cost up to $125 million. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) expressed concerns regarding the administration's use of defense funding, stating, 'I just don’t trust the administration to use this historical budget appropriately.'
The proposal will now move to the full House for consideration, although its future in the Senate is uncertain, as Democratic support will be necessary for its advancement. Following the committee vote, Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) emphasized the importance of the NDAA in strengthening U.S. military capabilities.
