House Panel Advances Defense Bill Including Amendment to Rename Pentagon as Department of War

Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee voted along party lines late Thursday to advance legislation that would rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War. The panel adopted an amendment offered by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) that would codify the name change in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act.

The committee held more than 14 hours of debate during which lawmakers considered roughly 900 amendments. The panel voted 44-12 to advance the legislation shortly before midnight. President Donald Trump first pushed for the name change last fall through executive action, arguing that the title “Department of War” better reflects a military focused on fighting and winning conflicts.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has embraced the effort and adopted the title “Secretary of War,” though the department’s legal name remains unchanged pending congressional approval. The Congressional Budget Office estimated a government-wide renaming effort could cost as much as $125 million. “Restoring the name Department of War sends an unmistakable signal to the world,” Jackson said during debate.

The proposal now heads to the full House. Its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain, where Democratic support would be needed to move the legislation forward. Democrats criticized both the name change and the broader defense package.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), who offered an amendment to reduce defense spending, said his proposal stemmed from concerns about how the Trump administration would use the funding. “I just don’t trust the administration to use this historical budget appropriately,” Moulton said.

Mike Rogers (R-AL) praised the bill’s passage. “Military remains the most capable and lethal fighting force in the world,” Rogers said. Rogers added that the fiscal 2027 NDAA would strengthen American deterrence and provide service members with the resources needed to defend the country.