The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced a provision in its FY2027 NDAA to rename the Department of Defense as the "Department of War," following a similar House vote. Sen. Tim Kaine opposed the move, calling it a distraction from ending a contentious Middle East conflict, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the change. A CBO analysis estimates implementation could cost $10 million to $125 million, a point critics like Rep. Jeff Merkley cited as evidence the effort misplaces priorities.
Senate Panel Advances Measure To Rename Pentagon 'Department of War' As Part Of FY2027 NDAA
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth finishes the installation of a Department of War plaque at the River Entrance in front of the Pentagon on Nov. 13, 2025. (Madelyn Keech/DoD)
The Senate Armed Services Committee voted this week to advance a provision in its version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would rename the Department of Defense to the "Department of War," moving the proposal one step closer to a final vote.
What Happened
The name-change amendment appears in the committee’s draft of the FY2027 NDAA. The measure follows a similar amendment approved last week by the House Armed Services Committee and would formally restore the historic "War Department" name should Congress enact the provision into law.
Lawmakers Weigh In
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said he opposed advancing the bill, criticizing both the renaming and related funding tied to what he described as an "illegal and foolish" conflict in the Middle East. "Rather than taking steps to end this deeply unpopular war, this bill rebrands the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a juvenile move," Kaine said in a statement, arguing the change distracts from diplomatic alternatives.
"Rather than taking steps to end this deeply unpopular war, this bill rebrands the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a juvenile move that sadly describes the reality of a President who has abandoned meaningful diplomacy..." — Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the House committee’s approval on social media, declaring that "The Department of War will officially be restored soon." Supporters say restoring the historic name would project American strength and resolve to adversaries.
Background And Cost
Pentagon and other federal officials have reportedly used "Department of War" as a secondary title since President Donald Trump issued an executive order in September 2025 declaring the reversal. Historically, the agency was called the War Department from its founding in 1789 until it was renamed the Department of Defense in 1947 on President Harry Truman’s recommendation.
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis released in January estimated the administrative and implementation costs of the renaming at between $10 million and $125 million. Critics, including Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), said the proposal is a misprioritization of resources. "Instead of prioritizing bringing down the cost of groceries or health care, Trump and his cronies are focused on vanity projects like renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War — potentially costing American taxpayers upwards of $125 million," Merkley said after the CBO report.
Next Steps
The House amendment has been transmitted to the Senate, and the Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced its version of the NDAA with the name-change provision included. The full Senate has not yet released its bill text or set a date for floor consideration; if taken up, the proposal would still need final passage by both chambers and the president’s signature to become law.
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