Department of War

What the Department of War does

The Department of War is the executive department that runs the U.S. armed forces. Its About page gives the mission as providing the military forces needed to deter war and ensure the nation's security. As of October 2026, the page lists:

• an $841.4 billion national defense budget
• 3.4 million service members and civilians
• 4,800 sites in over 160 countries
• 11 combatant commands

The page names Pete Hegseth as secretary and Steve Feinberg as his deputy. The headquarters is the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Federal law lists its parts. They include the Office of the Secretary, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the defense agencies and the combatant commands. The Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force sit inside it too.

Why it has two names

As of October 2026, the U.S. Code still calls it the Department of Defense. Executive Order 14347, signed on September 5, 2025, authorized Department of War as a secondary title. The title may be used in official correspondence, public communications and non-statutory documents. The order says references in statute stay controlling until changed by law. The department's website and releases now use the new title.

The name is older than the department. National Archives records list a War Department from 1789 to 1947. The National Security Act of 1947 renamed it the Department of the Army. It also set up the National Military Establishment under a Secretary of Defense. A 1949 law renamed that body the Department of Defense.

Why it matters for technology

The department runs the U.S. military programs that the Defense Tech Programs Tracker follows. Much of its recent work concerns drones.

• In August 2025, Hegseth announced that he had directed the Army secretary to set up Joint Interagency Task Force 401. Its job is to counter hostile drones.
• A memo dated June 29, 2026 set up a portfolio manager for unmanned systems, reporting to the deputy secretary. The department said on July 1 that the new office would oversee the task force.

Recent developments

• October 2, 2026: The department announced a memo telling its offices to approve counter-drone systems faster. Any denial must be documented and sent to the task force.
• September 29, 2026: The task force and the Army announced 10 counter-drone contract awards. DefenseScoop reported a combined ceiling of $4.15 billion, with $50 million obligated.
• April 10, 2026: The FAA said it and the department had completed a safety assessment of a high-energy laser counter-drone system.
• December 8, 2025: The secretary signed new guidance on countering drones inside the United States. It lets commanders act beyond an installation's fence line, a fact sheet says.

What to watch

• Two 30-day deadlines. The memo, dated September 28, 2026, orders one department-wide process for granting counter-drone systems an authority to operate. It also orders a review of radio spectrum requests. Both are due within 30 days of publication.
• More contracts. A task force official told DefenseScoop it expected to sign more awards before the end of October 2026. The aim was a $7 billion ceiling across all its awards.
• Funding. DefenseScoop reported that Congress had extended the previous year's funding levels only until mid-December.
• The name. The statutory name stays until a law changes it. The executive order asked the secretary to recommend the steps needed for a permanent change. In June 2026, Military Times reported that armed services committees in both chambers had backed a renaming.