Bangladesh, March 23 -- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has sparked a debate over the name of the Department of Defense by suggesting a return to its historical title, the Department of War. Conducting an online poll, Hegseth sought public opinion on whether the departments current name accurately reflects its purpose. The poll quickly gained traction, drawing the attention of over 160,000 respondents. Notably, more than half supported the idea of a name change. Among those weighing in was billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who shared the poll and remarked that “War is more accurate.”

The origins of the Department of Defense trace back to the Department of War, which operated under that title for nearly 160 years. Establis...