GOP senator vows to 'lead opposition' to Trump's 'Dept of War' name change
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth talks to U.S. President Donald Trump during the U.S. Army's 250th Birthday parade, on the same day of U.S. President Donald Trump 79th birthday, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 14, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said he would lead a Senate effort to block President Donald Trump from changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.

“I think it sends a bad signal to the world," Paul told CNN's Manu Raju on Tuesday. "In a world with nuclear weapons, I think glorifying war… is not something I'm in favor of."

Paul insisted he would "lead opposition" to renaming the department.

An executive order signed by Trump this month described the Department of War as a "secondary title" for the Department of Defense.

"The Order instructs the Secretary of War to recommend actions, to include legislative and executive actions, required to permanently rename the U.S. Department of Defense to the U.S. Department of War," the document said.