119-hr5522

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5522 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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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 Representatives 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 findings:

    (1) On August 7, 1789, 236 years ago, President George 
 Washington signed into law a bill establishing 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 Department of War, 
 along with the later formed Department 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 Congress 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.

    (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 Defense 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 ``Department of War''; 
 and
        (B) by striking ``Secretary of Defense'' each place 
 it appears and inserting ``Secretary of War''.

    (2) References.--Any reference to the Department 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 Department of War.

    (3) Other officials.--This subsection shall also apply, as 
 appropriate, to subordinate officials within the Department of 
 Defense, who may use corresponding secondary titles such as 
 Deputy Secretary of War or Under Secretary of War in the 
 contexts described in paragraph

    (2) .

    (4) Statutory references.--Statutory references to the 
 Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense, and subordinate 
 officers and components shall remain controlling until changed 
 subsequently by the law.
            (d) Implementation.--This section shall be carried out consistent 
with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
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