5 Radical Moves: Inside Pete Hegseth's Controversial First Year As Secretary Of War

The appointment of Pete Hegseth as the 29th Secretary of Defense—a title he has since controversially discarded—marked one of the most significant and polarizing cabinet decisions of the second Trump administration. As of late 2025, the former Fox News contributor and Army National Guard officer is now leading what he has officially rebranded as the U.S. Department of War (DOW), ushering in a series of dramatic policy shifts that challenge decades of military and bureaucratic tradition.

Hegseth’s tenure, which began with his swearing-in on January 25, 2025, has been defined by a philosophy of "winning" and a rejection of what he terms "woke" military policies. His focus is on rebuilding a "martial" culture, a vision that has sparked intense debate among political leaders, military brass, and defense analysts. This deep dive explores the man, his background, and the five most radical changes he has implemented since taking the helm of America’s military establishment.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: Complete Official Biography

Peter Brian Hegseth’s journey from a decorated military officer to a prominent television personality and now a cabinet official is unique in modern American politics. His profile is often cited by supporters as evidence of a necessary outsider perspective, while critics point to his lack of high-level civilian leadership experience as a major disqualification for the role of Defense Secretary.

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• Full Name: Peter Brian Hegseth
• Born: June 6, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Education:
  • B.A. from Princeton University (2003)
  • Master's in Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government
• Military Service: U.S. Army National Guard Officer
• Deployments: Served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay
• Media Career: Joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014, becoming a prominent co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend
• Previous Roles: Executive Director of Vets for Freedom and CEO of Concerned Veterans for America
• Cabinet Appointment: Sworn in as 29th Secretary of Defense on January 25, 2025

The Radical Rebranding: Department of War (DOW) is Back

Perhaps the most symbolic and controversial move of Hegseth’s early tenure was the directive to rename the Department of Defense (DOD) back to its pre-1947 name: the Department of War (DOW). The change, which officially took effect in the first quarter of 2025, was championed by Hegseth who argued that the term "Defense" was a post-World War II euphemism that softened the true mission of the U.S. military.

Hegseth’s rationale is rooted in a belief that the U.S. has "not won a major war" since the name change, suggesting that the "bold martial overtones" of the original title better suit a mission focused on victory and projecting power. This decision immediately drew fire from critics who saw the move as unnecessarily provocative and a step backward from the concept of a unified national security strategy that includes diplomacy and deterrence. The sudden shift required a massive bureaucratic overhaul, impacting everything from official stationery and websites to the title of the Secretary himself, who now prefers to be called the "Secretary of War."

Hegseth’s Five Game-Changing Policy Directives

Beyond the symbolic name change, Secretary Hegseth has issued a series of sweeping policy directives aimed at fundamentally reshaping the U.S. military’s operations, technology, and relationship with foreign allies. These initiatives are the core of his "win-first" agenda and represent a significant break from previous administrations.

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1. The Launch of GenAI.mil: A New Digital Arsenal

In a major push to modernize the Department of War, Hegseth announced the mandatory adoption of a new generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform called GenAI.mil. This secure platform, built on Google’s Gemini technology, is designed to be used by every member of the Department of War. The goal is to revolutionize how military personnel handle controlled unclassified information (CUI), process and analyze satellite images, and even conduct internal auditing.

The initiative, mandated by President Trump in July 2025, has been touted as "America’s next arsenal of freedom," with Hegseth stating the U.S. is "pushing all of our chips" on AI integration to maintain a technological edge against adversaries. This rapid, top-down implementation of a secure AI service is one of the most aggressive technological shifts in Pentagon history, focusing on speed and accessibility across the ranks.

2. Sweeping Overhaul of Foreign Military Sales (FMS)

One of Hegseth’s core missions is to accelerate the process of transferring U.S. weapons and defense technology to allies, a system that has long been criticized for its bureaucratic sluggishness. In November 2025, the Secretary of War unveiled broad plans to shake up the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process.

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Described as a "sweeping realignment" of acquisition and arms transfer, the overhaul involves unifying the department’s arms transfer and security cooperation functions under a streamlined directive. The goal is to make the sales process faster, larger, and more responsive to global threats, allowing key allies to acquire the necessary military hardware without years of delays. This policy is a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s strategy to bolster global partnerships through rapid military support.

3. Reverting to "Psyop" and "Warfare" Terminology

In a move that mirrors the renaming of the department, Hegseth has quietly issued directives to revert to more aggressive and traditional military terminology. Most notably, he ordered the military entity charged with influencing foreign audiences to revert its name to the original "psyop" (psychological operations) terminology, replacing softer, more politically correct language.

This push for "bold martial overtones" is part of a broader cultural reform aimed at strengthening the War Department’s people and culture. The philosophy is that direct, unambiguous language about warfighting is necessary for a military focused on victory, eliminating terms that Hegseth views as having been diluted by bureaucratic compromise.

4. Increased Focus on the "Arsenal of Freedom"

Secretary Hegseth has made a point of visiting defense manufacturers and contractors, specifically touting the need to build the "arsenal of freedom." His meetings, such as one with Boeing employees in Alabama, emphasize a renewed commitment to domestic defense production and the importance of American manufacturing in equipping U.S. troops and allies. This focus is tied directly to the FMS overhaul, ensuring that the industrial base can meet the demands of a faster, larger arms transfer process. This renewed emphasis on the defense industrial base represents a commitment to sustained, large-scale military readiness.

5. Navigating Twin Scandals and Confirmation Controversy

Hegseth's first year was not without significant turbulence. His nomination was met with intense scrutiny, with critics like Senator Tammy Duckworth and various science groups questioning his qualifications, citing a lack of high-level experience and deep knowledge of complex defense issues.

Furthermore, early in his tenure, Hegseth was reportedly engulfed by "twin scandals," including allegations of war crimes in the Caribbean and a blistering internal crisis. This political pressure has been a constant backdrop to his policy rollouts, forcing him to balance a radical reform agenda with the need to manage major crises and maintain credibility with Congress, particularly during sensitive decisions like the potential release of full video footage of a classified attack.

The first year of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of War has been a whirlwind of policy, controversy, and aggressive change. From the symbolic renaming of the Department of Defense to the strategic implementation of GenAI.mil and the FMS overhaul, Hegseth is clearly driving a major shift in the U.S. military’s operational and cultural landscape. His tenure will continue to be closely watched as his radical reforms take root and reshape America’s approach to global conflict and defense strategy.