US Defense Secretary suggests renaming Pentagon to 'Department of War'
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gives Americans the choice to have the Pentagon renamed as "Department of War" or keep the name of Department of Defense.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to give a television interview outside the White House, on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington (AP)
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has suggested renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, launching a public poll to gauge support for the change.
"Better name? Have my thoughts… welcome yours," Hegseth posted on X, prompting over 160,000 responses. More than half of the participants favored the idea, with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk endorsing the proposal, stating, "War is more accurate."
Better name?
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 22, 2025
Have my thoughts…welcome yours. #PeoplesPentagon
The US military’s central agency was known as the Department of War for nearly 160 years before being restructured in 1947 under the National Security Act. It was later merged with the Department of the Navy, leading to the creation of the Department of Defense in 1949.
Hegseth’s suggestion comes amid escalating tensions with China. Earlier this month, he warned that Washington was prepared for war with Beijing if necessary, following China’s threats of tariff retaliation in the ongoing trade dispute between the two nations.
A Congressional Research Service report indicates that from 1798 to 2023, the US deployed military forces abroad in "hundreds of instances" to engage in armed conflict or protect its interests, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and operations in Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia. Washington has officially declared war only 11 times in its history.
Musk to be briefed on Pentagon docs?
In a related context, reports in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal claimed that Musk, in his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), would be briefed on a classified military blueprint regarding potential conflict with China. The reports alleged that his Pentagon visit could provide him access to sensitive military strategies.
Hegseth dismissed the allegations as “fake news,” insisting the discussions focused on “innovation, efficiencies, and smarter production.” President Donald Trump also rejected the reports, calling them “completely untrue” and accusing the media of fabricating lies.
Musk, a close political ally of Trump, is leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an entity facing numerous legal challenges in the courts over its access to and influence over various federal departments.
The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX also has business interests in China, and SpaceX holds billions of dollars in federal contracts to develop military technology, including satellites, for the US government."
'Ridiculous claims'
"The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding, "They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential 'war with China.' How ridiculous?"
The US military has been strategizing for a possible confrontation with China for years, with Taiwan as the main point of contention. Additionally, ongoing tensions stem from territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
While it is possible that the US could intervene to defend Taiwan if China were to invade, it maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding the issue.
China considers Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, to be part of its territory, and many analysts predict that if diplomatic efforts fail, Beijing may eventually resort to military action to seize the island.
Musk has stakes on both sides of the equation. His business operations in China would suffer greatly in the event of war, while his company, SpaceX, could benefit substantially from Pentagon defense contracts.
