Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is using the title 'Secretary of War' and has directed installations to swap 'defense' for 'war' in signage and communications.
• Officials and analysts warn the rebrand could cost from hundreds of millions to over $1 billion, diverting attention and resources from operational priorities.
• Strategists and allies voice concern that the rhetoric signals an offensive posture, heightens security dilemmas, and hands adversaries propaganda fodder.
• The shift coincides with contentious actions, including a U.S. strike on an alleged Venezuelan gang vessel in international waters that killed 11 and drew legal scrutiny, as well as earlier strikes on Iranian facilities.
• Congressional action is required to change the statutory name, and lawmakers have opened a debate with proposals to either codify or resist the rename.