I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5522 
To change the name of the Department of Defense to the ‘‘Department 
of War’’, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 
Mr. MCGUIRE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To change the name of the Department of Defense to the 
‘‘Department of War’’, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Peace Through 
Strength Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. CHANGE OF NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
TO ‘‘DEPARTMENT OF WAR’’. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
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(1) On August 7, 1789, 236 years ago, Presi-
dent George Washington signed into law a bill estab-
lishing the United States Department of War to 
oversee the operation and maintenance of military 
and naval affairs. 
(2) It was under this name that the Depart-
ment of War, along with the later formed Depart-
ment of the Navy, won the War of 1812, World War 
I, and World War II, inspiring awe and confidence 
in our Nation’s military, and ensuring freedom and 
prosperity for all Americans. 
(3) The Founders chose this name to signal our 
strength and resolve to the world. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the name ‘‘Department of War’’, more than 
the current ‘‘Department of Defense’’, ensures peace 
through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and 
willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our 
Nation at a moment’s notice, not just to defend. 
(2) This name sharpens the Department’s focus 
on our own national interest and our adversaries’ 
focus on our willingness and availability to wage war 
to secure what is ours. 
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(3) This Department should once again be 
known as the Department of War and the Secretary 
should be known as the Secretary of War. 
(c) CHANGE OF NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE TO DEPARTMENT OF WAR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The United States Code is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Department of Defense’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Depart-
ment of War’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Defense’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary 
of War’’. 
(2) REFERENCES.—Any reference to the De-
partment of Defense in any law, rule, regulation, 
certificate, directive, instruction, or other official 
paper in force on the date of the enactment of this 
Act shall be considered to refer and apply to the De-
partment of War. 
(3) OTHER OFFICIALS.—This subsection shall 
also apply, as appropriate, to subordinate officials 
within the Department of Defense, who may use cor-
responding secondary titles such as Deputy Sec-
retary of War or Under Secretary of War in the con-
texts described in paragraph (2). 
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