Secretary of War

The United States Secretary of War is the head of the Department of War. The current Secretary of War is Pete Hegseth, who was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and approved by the US Senate.

History

From 1789 until 1947 the branch of the federal government that dealt with military matters was called the War Department which was headed by the Secretary of War, a cabinet member. The Department of Defense was created along with the position of Secretary of Defense by the National Security Act of 1947. The War Department functions were taken over by the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force.

The Secretary of Defense position was created in 1947 by President Harry S Truman along with the creation of the National Military Establishment (which became the DoD in 1949), which replaced the Secretary and Department of War. James Forrestal was appointed as the first Secretary of Defense.

In Seotember 2025 President Donald Trump changed the name of the US Defense Department back to the Department of War

Duties

The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy advisor to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the DoD, and for the execution of approved policy. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense.

Partial list of secretaries

Secretaries of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld	January 20, 2001	December 18, 2006
Robert Gates	December 18, 2006	July 11, 2011
Leon Panetta	July 11, 2011	February 27, 2013
Chuck Hagel	February 27, 2013	February 17, 2015
Ashton Carter	February 17, 2015	January 20, 2017
James Mattis	January 20, 2017	Incumbent