House Armed Services Committee Advances Pentagon Name Change

Recently, members of the House Armed Services Committee voted to support President Donald Trump’s initiative to rename the Pentagon to the Department of the Army. This development was part of the broader $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2027, which saw approval on Thursday.

The committee incorporated an amendment from Rep. Ronnie Jackson (R-Texas) aimed at formalizing the name change. After a lengthy session that included over 14 hours of debate and consideration of around 900 amendments, the bill was passed with a vote of 44-12 just before midnight. This action is part of the annual defense policy process.

“Once you actually see how beautiful it is, you have no choice. [but] To vote yes on this amendment,” commented Jackson, as Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) displayed a mock-up of the revised Pentagon logo.

Trump had previously issued a presidential order regarding this name change, with the process expected to kick off in early September. In late April, the Pentagon requested Congress to officially adopt the name “Department of the Army,” estimating the transition would cost close to $52 million. However, they noted that this cost would not significantly affect the overall defense budget request.

The name War Department dates back to its establishment in 1789 under President George Washington and remained until the Truman administration in 1947, which reorganized the military branches into the Department of Defense.

“Reinstating the Department of the Army’s name sends an unmistakable signal to the world: Deterrence only works when adversaries believe that the United States is prepared to fight and win to secure their interests,” Jackson stated.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, expressed his satisfaction with the swift passage of the bill after a demanding session.

“The FY27 NDAA reflects months of oversight, public hearings, member engagement, and collaboration to ensure the U.S. military remains the most capable and lethal fighting force in the world,” Rogers said, highlighting the bipartisan cooperation involved. “I look forward to advancing it to strengthen our deterrence and provide our warfighters with the resources they need to protect our country.”

The next steps include debate in the House of Representatives; however, its future in the Senate is uncertain, as it would require Democratic support to move forward.