Trump’s Proposed Name Change for the Pentagon
Recently, President Trump addressed reporters in the Oval Office, indicating that he plans to announce a change to the Pentagon’s name, suggesting it should be called the Department of War “in a week or so.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegses chimed in from the back of the room, mentioning, “It’s coming soon, sir.”
Trump expressed his belief that the term “defense” feels weaker. He pointed out that from 1789 to 1947, under the label of the Department of War, the United States never lost a war (though the last officially declared war was in 1942). He concluded with a somewhat provocative statement: “I want defense, but we want attacks too.”
While the President’s historical references are spot-on, the logic doesn’t quite hold up. It’s easy to imagine that renaming the Pentagon could lead to exaggerated expectations, as if a new label alone could shift the balance of power globally.
When George Washington first took office in 1789, he appointed a cabinet of four significant figures, including Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury and Henry Knox as the war chief. It’s worth noting that the Vice President wasn’t included as Washington served as Senate President.
Since those early days, the government has expanded considerably, now encompassing 15 Executive Divisions and employing over three million federal workers across various branches and agencies. The cabinet has grown from five members to 26, including the President, 15 Cabinet Gazettes, ten additional Cabinet-level officials, and the Vice President.
Elon Musk’s approach to efficiency has certainly trimmed some bureaucratic layers, yet a significant amount still exists. Many “independent” agencies established by Congress continue to operate with statutory protections, even amid attempts by the President to make changes.
The idea of a presidential cabinet stems from Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution, stating that the President may request the opinions of principal executive branch officials. While that sounds straightforward, it reveals the compromise between those who wanted the President to have a strong cabinet and those who preferred limited presidential power.
Woodrow Wilson, during his senior year at Princeton in 1879, published an article titled “Cabinet Government.” He admired the British parliamentary model, boasting a unified party administration, and critiqued America’s divided powers approach. He pointed out that Congress operates as a deliberative body with minimal actual deliberation.
Wilson’s most radical proposal was to let the President choose cabinet members from Congress while they still represented their districts or states. He didn’t suggest that these Cabinet Secretaries should also head corresponding congressional committees.
He introduced the concept of the “right to initiative in law,” that would give priority for discussion on presidential bills in committees. He acknowledged their unique roles would create a bridge between legislative and administrative functions, serving as representatives of the executive.
Curiously, Wilson didn’t delve into potential ethical concerns, like conflicts of interest with this approach. He might have framed these ideas as a means to foster more effective governance.
As Wilson’s career progressed, he gained more political influence as New Jersey’s governor and eventually as President (1913-1921). His doctoral thesis, “The Government of Parliament,” published in 1885, showed his ongoing admiration for the British system despite its shortcomings in the American context.
Nonetheless, as President, Wilson realized he could engage more directly in national debates and decisions, thereby achieving a more understandable and accessible government for the citizens.
Inquiring about the Pentagon’s name change, one might think that swapping “Department of Defense” for “War Division” hardly registers as a significant shift in a broader context.
