The Pentagon will get a rebrand nobody requested for

President Donald Trump is predicted to signal an govt order on Friday to rebrand the Division of Protection because the Division of Battle, a transfer that the administration says higher displays the mission of these serving in uniform—however principally looks like a pointless title change. 

“Restoring the name ‘Department of War’ will sharpen the focus of this Department on our national interest and signal to adversaries America’s readiness to wage war to secure its interests,” in line with a doc describing the forthcoming order obtained by The Washington Put up.

Trump has been teasing the change for weeks. 

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s title would possibly quickly change to “secretary of war.”

“We call it the Department of Defense, but between us, I think we’re going to change the name,” he mentioned in August. “We won the World War 1, World War 2—it was called the Department of War, and to me, that’s really what it is. Defense is a part of that, but I have a feeling we’re going to be changing.”

It’s price noting that Trump’s declare isn’t traditionally correct. The “Department of War” solely ever referred to what’s now the Military, not the complete Protection Division. So this isn’t actually a restoration—it’s extra of a beauty change.

On Thursday, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted on the transfer throughout a graduation speech at Fort Benning, telling new navy officers that his job title “may be a slightly different title tomorrow.”

However there are actual authorized and logistical questions right here. The division’s title was created by Congress in 1789 and formally modified to the Division of Protection in 1949, with every change requiring laws. 

Even when it’s authorized, it gained’t be low cost. The Protection Division’s seal seems on lots of of buildings and installations worldwide. Swapping out signage, letterhead, and digital branding may price tens of tens of millions of {dollars}—however Trump has by no means been shy about spending huge on symbolism. 

The Navy oiler ship beforehand named after LGBTQ+ icon Harvey Milk was renamed by Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth in June.

President Joe Biden’s effort to strip Accomplice names from bases price greater than $60 million—an effort that Hegseth later reversed by reinstating the previous names however tying them to new honorees with the identical surnames.

Critics say this newest proposed title change does nothing to strengthen the navy. 

“American military supremacy has eroded as China has sprinted to field combat forces that they hope can defeat the United States military in the Pacific. Changing the name of the Department of Defense won’t help with that,” Brad Bowman of the Basis for Protection of Democracies, instructed the Put up, including that the cash can be higher spent on coaching and equipping troops.

He’s additionally made it a private campaign—restoring Accomplice base names and even ordering a Navy oiler ship named for homosexual rights icon Harvey Milk to be stripped of its title earlier this summer time.

Whether or not this really does something past grabbing headlines remains to be up within the air. What’s apparent, although, is that Trump treats strikes like this as political theater—even after they price lots and achieve nearly nothing.