Overview

• President Trump signed a decree authorizing use of the secondary title 'Department of War' and addressed Pete Hegseth as 'War Secretary' as department social channels briefly reflected the change.
• The White House says the move is meant to project readiness and a revived 'warrior ethos,' while analysts note global rebranding could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
• The legal status remains uncertain because Congress sets the Pentagon’s official name, and at least one Republican senator has urged swift legislation to codify a change.
• Trump escalated tensions with Illinois by posting an AI‑generated image and writing that Chicago would soon learn why it is called the War Department, drawing sharp rebukes from Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
• The threat to Chicago follows recent domestic deployments, including National Guard forces in Washington and an earlier operation in Los Angeles, prompting protests and expectations of court challenges.