WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing the Department of Defense to use the new secondary name of “Department of War.”

The order, which names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with the new title of “Secretary of War,” is part of an effort to project “strength and resolve” and signals a focus on a “warfighting” mission.

The executive order authorizes officials to use the new titles while working toward a permanent legislative change.

The original Department of War, established in 1789, was rebranded after World War II and existed until 1947.

A formal and permanent name change, however, would require congressional approval.

The administration argues that the new name will sharpen the department’s focus on national interests and move away from what it calls an overemphasis on diversity and “woke ideology.”

President Trump has expressed confidence that lawmakers will support the name change, which he says reflects the nation’s “unbelievable history of victory.”

The move marks the president’s 200th executive order and follows a massive military parade by China that was widely interpreted as a clear message to the US.

The full rebranding is expected to be a costly overhaul of hundreds of agencies, uniforms, and digital platforms.