“The Department of Defense is now the Department of War. But is it really?”

The White House issued an Executive Order authorizing “Department of War” as a secondary title for the Department of Defense. The order permits use of the title in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial contexts, and other non-statutory documents within the executive branch. The Department of Defense remains the legal name. A full and permanent change would require action by Congress.

So what does this mean in practice for government contractors? Think of it as a parallel label that may appear in some settings while the statutory framework stays put.

What’s Changing

• Official usage may appear in some places. Agencies are authorized to use “Department of War” on signage, seals, websites, and correspondence alongside “Department of Defense.” Rollout will likely be gradual and uneven across offices.

• Some administrative materials may shift. You may see the secondary title on forms, portals, or notices as updates propagate.

What’s Not Changing

• The legal and contractual name. “Department of Defense” remains the name in U.S. Code. Contracts, the FAR and DFARS, and statutory references still rely on “Department of Defense.” Any permanent renaming would require Congress.

• Baseline procurement language. Solicitations and awards are expected to continue referencing the Department of Defense as the authority of record unless and until Congress changes the law.

How Should Contractors Proceed?

Program Manager of Business Development, Geronimo Moreno tell us to "Treat “Department of War” like an AKA for now," and mirror what the government gives you. Here's a checklist to navigate these uncharted waters:

1. Mirror the government’s title exactly.
   If a solicitation, amendment, or Q&A says “Department of Defense,” use that wording in your proposal and forms. If an official document arrives under “Department of War,” match that title in cover letters and narrative sections. Keep compliance references aligned to the solicitation text.

2. Bake the rule into proposal controls.
   Add a one-line step in color-team and compliance checklists: “Verify agency title matches the solicitation and latest amendment.” Create a brief style note for capture and proposal writers that both titles may appear and that the solicitation governs usage.

3. Tune templates without a full overhaul.
   Keep “Department of Defense” as the default in boilerplate. Add a placeholder that auto-fills the agency title from your opportunity record so writers do not freehand it.

4. Align with teammates.
   Send a short notice to primes and subs stating that your team will mirror the issuing title on each opportunity and asking them to do the same. This prevents mixed terminology in a single package.

5. Brief the frontline.
   Give BD, capture, and proposal coordinators a two-minute update. The message is simple: follow the title on the government document and cite the solicitation number in correspondence.

6. Preserve an audit trail.
   In your contract file, CRM, and correspondence logs, record the agency title exactly as used in each document. This supports internal reviews and external audits.

7. Watch for formal guidance, not headlines.
   Monitor official memos, policy notices, class deviations, or FAR Council updates that would direct changes to procurement language. Adjust your playbook when the government tells you to, not before.

The Takeaway

This is a secondary title, not a statutory replacement. The Executive Order authorizes “Department of War” in certain executive branch contexts, while “Department of Defense” remains the standard that governs contracts and regulations. Contractors who mirror government usage, lock the rule into proposal processes, and track official guidance will be positioned to respond accurately as the situation evolves.