Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressed confusion on Friday regarding President Trump’s choice to revert the Pentagon’s name back to the “War Department.”
“I don’t quite understand why the president is pursuing this. Perhaps he thinks it gives a tougher image to our military,” he said during an interview with host Erica Hill.
Panetta added, “But changing the name doesn’t really reflect the actual strength of our armed forces.”
Trump officially signed an executive order changing the Department of Defense to the War Bureau, a move that generated mixed feelings, including both enthusiasm and skepticism about potential costs.
The president suggested that this rebranding symbolizes American strength, referencing the country’s military successes associated with the term War Department.
“It’s really about winning. We should have come out on top in every conflict. We had the capacity to win, but we leaned towards being politically correct and just ended up fighting endlessly,” he stated in the Oval Office.
“We triumphed in World War I and World War II, and we were formidable back then. But we didn’t commit fully to winning. We didn’t fight to win,” he remarked.
Panetta countered Trump’s implication that the military’s attitude had shifted after 1949, following a brief period as a national military facility under President Truman.
“Our military’s strength lies in a focus on enhancing it, investing in our troops, and improving our weapon systems and technology,” the former Defense Secretary noted.
“That’s what truly strengthens America. People will pay attention to that, not to a name change,” he added.
During the same day, the newly designated War Secretary Heggs shared a video showcasing his updated nameplate, and the website at defense.gov has been modified accordingly.
For any permanent changes, Congressional approval is necessary. Republican lawmakers introduced legislation earlier on Friday aimed at strengthening the rebranding effort.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who leads the Senate Defense Budget Subcommittee, urged Trump to align executive orders with the Pentagon’s increasing budget, highlighting the potential threats posed by nations like China and Russia.
