The Brief

President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order Friday directing the Pentagon to use the historic title "Department of War," reviving the name the military operated under until 1947.

The move has been one of Trump’s long-discussed goals, with both the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying the name projects American strength. Critics, however, argue the change is symbolic, legally limited, and could come with a hefty price tag for taxpayers.

Can Trump rename the Department of Defense?

The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to create, shutter and rename federal agencies, meaning Trump cannot unilaterally change the Pentagon’s official title .

Instead, the order will install "Department of War" as a secondary name used on federal

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