A White House official revealed on Saturday that President Donald Trump’s administration is moving forward with a plan to rename the U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon) to its historic former name, the “Department of War.”

A Wall Street Journal report noted that this move follows Trump raising the idea earlier in the week, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the U.S. military’s offensive capabilities, not just defense.

Trump said during a conversation with reporters in the Oval Office, “The name sounded better to me… It used to be called the Department of War and had a stronger impact. We want defense, but we also want offense. With the Department of War, we won everything, and I think we will have to go back to that.”

Officials explained that renaming the department likely requires congressional legislation, but the White House is exploring alternative ways to implement the change, including proposals through annual defense policy bills.

In a supportive move, Republican Representative Greg Steube from Florida introduced an amendment to the annual defense policy bill to change the department’s name, reflecting some Republican backing in Congress for the idea.

The White House did not provide further details on practical steps to implement the change, stating only that the decision reflects the president’s directives and his interest in enhancing the military’s offensive capabilities.

This proposal has historical context dating back to 1947, when the National Security Act was introduced to unify the Army, Navy, and Air Force under one umbrella called the “National Military Establishment,” gradually transforming the Department of War into the Department of Defense.

In 1949, a legal amendment officially renamed it the “Department of Defense,” the name used since then. Trump believes the current name does not reflect the aggressive nature and offensive capability the U.S. military was supposed to have at its founding.

A Reuters report indicated that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plan to promote a tougher image of the military, including purging senior military leaders whose views conflict with the president’s policies, banning transgender individuals from joining the military, and dismissing those currently serving, amid accusations of discrimination.