WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order on Friday to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War.

The order would allow the name to be used as a secondary title in official correspondence, with references such as "Secretary of War," reported local media outlets.

A full legal change would still require congressional approval.

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had argued the revival underscores a stronger "warrior ethos." Critics warned it could incur high costs and distract from security priorities.

"Defense is too defensive," Trump said last month. "And we want to be defensive, but we want to be offensive too if we have to be. So, it just sounded to me like a better name."

The Department of War, created in 1789, directed the U.S. Army and oversaw America's military through both World Wars before being consolidated into the Department of Defense in 1949. ■