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HR 5389119th CongressIntroduced

Restoring the United States Department of War Act

Introduced: Sep 16, 2025
Defense & National Security
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the Restoring the United States Department of War Act, would codify Executive Order 14347 into statutory law. In other words, it would take the provisions of EO 14347—which relates to restoring what is described as the United States Department of War—and give them the force of statute. The text provided shows no other changes to government structure, funding, or implementation details beyond making the executive order legally binding as federal law. The substantive effect would depend on the content of EO 14347, but the bill itself is narrowly focused on elevating the status of that executive action to statutory law. Because the bill simply codifies an executive order, it would reduce the likelihood that the relevant provisions could be altered or reversed by a future presidency through executive action alone, requiring Congressional action (or repeal) to modify those provisions in the future. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Armed Services; no Senate text or floor considerations are included in the provided material.

Key Points

  • 1Codifies EO 14347 into law: The executive order’s provisions would have the force and effect of federal statute.
  • 2Restores the Department of War: The EO is described as relating to restoring the United States Department of War; the bill enshrines that restoration in law, subject to the content of EO 14347.
  • 3Minimal scope: The bill contains no funding, no detailed organizational changes, and no implementation timeline beyond codifying the EO.
  • 4Legislative process in early stage: Introduced by Rep. Burchett on Sept. 16, 2025, and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services; no Senate action or accompanying companion measure shown in the provided text.
  • 5Policy and governance implications: Elevating an executive action to statute raises questions about separation of powers, congressional oversight, and how defense organization would be defined and changed in practice.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Department of Defense components and personnel associated with the Department of War concept (potential rebranding, leadership titles, and organizational claims depending on EO 14347).- Members of the armed forces and civilian defense staff who would be affected by any structural or naming changes implied by restoring the Department of War.Secondary group/area affected:- Congress and the Executive Branch: shifts in how defense organizational changes can be made and codified, affecting oversight, budgeting, and statutory authority.- Veterans and the public: symbolic and factual changes in government structure could influence perceived national security policy and historical framing.Additional impacts:- Legal/constitutional framework: codification would make the EO’s provisions statutory, meaning changes would typically require new law rather than a subsequent executive order.- International signaling and historical context: a formal restoration of the Department of War would represent a notable shift in nomenclature and potential policy symbolism, which could affect international perception of U.S. defense organization.
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