Restoring the United States Department of War Act
This bill, the Restoring the United States Department of War Act, would codify Executive Order 14347 into law, giving the executive directive the full force of statute. In practical terms, it aims to reestablish the United States Department of War as a separate department within the federal government, reversing the post-1947 structure that consolidated defense functions under the Department of Defense. By placing the executive order on a legal footing, the bill would ensure the War Department’s existence and authority persist across administrations, subject to further implementing laws and appropriations. The bill itself is narrow in scope: it does not lay out funding, organizational charts, or detailed powers and duties. Those specifics would be tied to the referenced executive order and any subsequent implementing legislation. As written, the act mainly guarantees the War Department’s legal status and authority as established by EO 14347, rather than creating a comprehensive new civil service or budget framework.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The act may be cited as the “Restoring the United States Department of War Act.”
- 2Codification of EO 14347: Executive Order 14347 shall have the force and effect of law.
- 3Purpose: Reestablish the United States Department of War as a separate department within the federal government, reversing the post-1947 reorganization that merged defense functions under the Department of Defense.
- 4Scope of provisions: The bill does not specify funding, organizational structure, or detailed authorities; those elements are treated as governed by EO 14347 and any implementing legislation.
- 5Relationship to existing law: Codifying the executive order could interact with or require alignment with existing statutes (e.g., the National Security Act of 1947 and other defense-related laws), potentially prompting additional statutory changes.