Josh Hawley Explains Why Rebrand Was Needed [WATCH]

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri voiced strong support Friday for President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Department of Defense the “Department of War,” restoring the Pentagon’s original title.

The order, signed earlier in the day, was framed by the administration as a move to reemphasize the military’s central mission of waging and winning wars.

Hawley, speaking on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, said the decision marked a necessary step to reverse what he described as four years of ideological drift under Joe Biden.

“Absolutely, of course,” Hawley said when asked if he supported the change.

“I see this as about getting back to mission, Laura. Which is about recruiting war fighters to fight the wars that protect America. What Biden did for the last four years by turning the military into a giant DEI seminar has got to end.”

Hawley criticized policies carried out under the Biden-Harris administration, saying the Pentagon had focused on social initiatives rather than combat readiness.

“They were conducting transgender surgeries in the military in military facilities. We were paying for abortions for military members, service members, for who knows who else that were getting this kind of funding for these kinds of projects. It’s totally outrageous,” Hawley said.

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The Missouri senator emphasized that the military must remain focused on defending the country.

“They should be defending America. To me, that is what this is all about. I welcome the change,” he added.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also spoke this week about the significance of restoring the Pentagon’s historic name.

On Wednesday, he said the decision reflects a broader cultural reset within the armed forces’ leadership and a commitment to restoring a “fighting mentality” across the ranks.

Hegseth has coupled the renaming with broader readiness initiatives.

He recently announced the formation of the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, a new unit designed to coordinate anti-drone operations across all branches of the U.S. military.

The task force will be led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and replaces a limited Army-only project.

The initiative aims to strengthen national and international defenses against emerging aerial threats.

Hostile drones are growing by the day.

That’s why I’ve directed @SecArmy to establish the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 to secure our skies. pic.twitter.com/0ZbLYpDLaG

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) August 28, 2025

The Army has already conducted testing under “Project Flytrap,” a program focused on real-time drone defense scenarios.

Those exercises, carried out in Poland, are part of efforts to adapt U.S. capabilities to the growing prevalence of drone warfare in modern conflicts.

The Department of War, known by that name until 1949 when it was renamed the Department of Defense, oversaw U.S. military operations during both World Wars.

By reintroducing the title, the Trump administration has signaled its intent to reinforce a traditional understanding of the Pentagon’s responsibilities.

Hawley’s remarks on Friday underscored Republican support for the change as a way to move away from recent social policy debates and re-center the military’s role on combat readiness.

With the Pentagon’s top leadership aligning on new strategies, the administration has indicated that the renaming is part of a wider effort to strengthen the country’s defense posture in an increasingly volatile global environment.

The new designation takes immediate effect following Trump’s order, with Defense Secretary Hegseth overseeing its implementation across military communications, training, and strategic planning.

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