President Trump’s sweeping administrative overhaul continued this week as he signed an executive order officially renaming the Department of Defense to the “Department of War,” returning to the historical name used before World War II. The move, announced Friday, represents the latest phase in what administration insiders are calling “Project Rename Everything.”
“The War Department just sounded to me better,” Trump explained during a press conference, noting that the administration would seek congressional approval to codify the change although Trump believed this to be unnecessary with the power of executive orders. The order allows Defense Department officials to immediately begin using “War” in their titles, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin now serving as Secretary of War.
The renaming follows Trump’s earlier directive to change the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” which has already begun appearing on federal maps and documents. Sources close to the administration suggest these moves are part of a comprehensive rebranding strategy designed to “make government names great again.”
According to internal White House memos obtained by Regional Dispatch, the President has already identified several additional targets for renaming. The State Department is reportedly slated to become the “Department of Winning,” while the Treasury Department may be rebranded as the “Department of Money.”
The Department of Education appears destined for the most dramatic transformation, with plans to rename it the “Department of Excellence and Patriotic Learning.” Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency could become the “Energy Dominance Agency,” sources indicate.
Congressional Republicans have expressed cautious support for the initiative. “If changing names helps President Trump deliver results for the American people, we’re open to discussing it,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, though he noted concerns about implementation costs after previous military base renamings cost $39 million.
Administration officials hint that state-level renaming could follow federal changes. Early proposals reportedly include renaming Washington state to “Trump state” and considering updates to city names that “don’t reflect American values.”
The President tweeted early Thursday morning: “Beautiful new names coming to make America’s government beautiful again. The Deep State used boring names. We use WINNING names!”
Implementation timelines remain unclear, though sources suggest the renamings will roll out in phases throughout 2025, pending congressional approval and budgetary considerations.