Pete Hegseth: The New Secretary of War Shaking Up the Pentagon

Pete Hegseth BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Pete Hegseth has dominated Pentagon headlines this week after President Trump signed an executive order to restore the historic "Department of War" name, with Pentagon websites and signage already making the switch. According to Fox News, the change allows "Department of War" as a secondary title for official communications, with Hegseth himself swapping his office nameplate to "Secretary of War" and appearing in a viral video celebrating the move. Long-term, the rebranding marks a culture shift, as Hegseth says the new title projects strength and toughness and aims to restore what both he and Trump call a "warrior ethos" in the military, though ABC News notes Congress must approve any formal, legal change. Social media has lit up around the renaming, with both supporters and critics weighing in. Critics, as reported by LiveNowFox, argue the move is largely symbolic and warn of possible multimillion-dollar costs to taxpayers, while Republicans in Congress now push for permanent legislation to cement the change.

Fresh off his rebranding blitz, Hegseth made a public appearance at Fort Benning on September 4, where he presided over an Army Officer Candidate School graduation. Fox News captured him promising to rebuild military deterrence and reestablish the Pentagon’s commitment to offense rather than defense, with headline-grabbing language that the U.S. military should be so fearsome that “the enemy sees an American, they don’t want to f--- with us.” The event drew extensive coverage on Fox, ABC, and Army.mil, with Hegseth also sharing personal stories and reaffirming his plan to empower leaders at the platoon level.

Earlier in the week, Hegseth joined congressional leaders in Washington to honor descendants of the Harlem Hellfighters, a historic Black infantry regiment from WWI, during an award ceremony at the Capitol, spotlighted on Army.mil. He recounted the unit’s bravery and perseverance, reinforcing his message about military tradition.

The week was not without controversy. The New Republic reports on a social media dustup, alleging Hegseth may have fired a Navy doctor who coordinated transgender healthcare after a far-right account targeted her online and tagged Hegseth, prompting him to tweet "Pronouns UPDATED: She/Her/Fired." While it is unclear if the firing was actually carried out, the incident has generated intense backlash and speculation about political motives and the administration's stance on LGBT issues.

Overall, Pete Hegseth's week reflects a flurry of public activity, hardline messaging, and symbolic gestures that could have enduring impact on how the Pentagon is seen and how it operates. Whether the "Secretary of War" title becomes more than a political stunt remains uncertain, but Hegseth has successfully kept himself front and center in the national security conversation.

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