Washington, USA: President Donald Trump has reinstated the Department of Defense’s original designation, renaming it the Department of War, a title unused since the mid-20th century.

To bypass congressional approval, the administration listed it as an alternate name, and the Pentagon’s official site now redirects visitors to war.gov.

Trump described the change as honoring tradition, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged a stronger, more proactive military approach. 

The decision follows a US Navy strike off Venezuela that killed 11, raising questions about Trump’s “anti-war” image.