The Pentagon’s web site and social media channels have been overhauled Friday at President Donald Trump’s behest to mirror the USA Protection Division’s new “Division of Conflict” persona, shifting from Protection.gov to Conflict.gov—a symbolic rebranding that highlights the administration’s desire for projecting power by way of the language of battle quite than the idiom of protection.
Trump on Friday signed an government order directing the Pentagon to as soon as once more be named the so-called Division of Conflict, reviving a reputation retired after World Conflict II to mark America’s flip to deterrence because the precept bulwark in opposition to nuclear annihilation.
At an Oval Workplace ceremony, Trump stated the change was about angle, declaring, “It’s actually about successful.”
“We received the First World Conflict, we received the Second World Conflict, we received every part earlier than that and in between,” Trump stated through the order’s signing. “After which we determined to go woke and we modified the title to the Division of Protection.”
The order authorizes protection secretary Pete Hegseth and different officers to make use of titles resembling “secretary of battle” in official correspondence, although Trump additionally instructed Hegseth to suggest steps wanted to make the change everlasting.
“We’re going to go on offense, not simply on protection. Most lethality, not tepid legality. Violent impact, not politically appropriate,” Hegseth stated throughout Friday’s signing ceremony. “We’re going to boost up warriors, not simply defenders.”
Each prior title change—from the Conflict Division created by Congress in 1789, to the Nationwide Navy Institution in 1947, to the Division of Protection in 1949—got here by way of laws. Allies in Congress shortly launched a invoice to again Friday’s change to the so-called Division of Conflict, however the administration seems to be searching for a workaround anyway, because it has finished previously, whether or not by invoking sweeping emergency powers or withholding congressionally accredited international help. Presently, “Division of Conflict” is a “secondary” title after the Division of Protection.
Inside hours of Trump’s order, Pentagon officers rebranded the division’s social media platforms. The Division of Protection’s official Fb, Instagram, and X accounts quietly rolled out the “Division of Conflict” title and seal, adopting labels at odds with its authorized id.
As of round 6 pm ET on Friday, the brand new Division of Conflict web page nonetheless lists all of the division’s different social channels and its web site as utilizing the “Protection” title, as did its YouTube channel.
How far the rebranding would possibly go is unclear, however any complete effort would saddle taxpayers with prices within the a whole bunch of thousands and thousands, if not billions, of {dollars}, as each signal, emblem, uniform, pc system, and piece of official paperwork tied to the Pentagon’s id throughout the globe would must be changed.
A previous effort to suggest adjustments at army installations commemorating the Confederacy carried a projected value of $39 million and coated solely 9 bases. The Protection Division’s actual property portfolio spans a whole bunch of hundreds of services, from main bases to small outposts worldwide.
