Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says the newly rebranded War Department, formerly known as the Department of Defense, plans to achieve a clean financial audit by 2028, a goal the Pentagon has failed to reach for decades.
In a newly released video statement, Hegseth appeared from an office flanked by U.S. flags and departmental banners, delivering a formal promise to overhaul one of Washington’s most criticized financial systems.
He announced several reforms designed to tighten spending controls and improve transparency. Those measures include a Joint Task Force Audit, expanded use of AI tools, and reducing the number of separate audits across agencies to streamline the process.
The Pentagon has long faced scrutiny for failing repeated audits despite commanding one of the largest budgets in the federal government. Supporters say the pledge signals a serious shift toward accountability and responsible management of taxpayer dollars.
Critics, however, question why the target date is still years away. Others argue that while officials promise better bookkeeping, military spending continues climbing and costs tied to the department’s rebrand and internal changes remain unclear.
The announcement also adds fuel to the political debate surrounding the name change from Department of Defense back to War Department, a move supporters frame as honesty and strength, while opponents call it unnecessary symbolism.
Now the pressure is on.
If the department misses the 2028 deadline, critics will likely point to yet another broken promise. If it succeeds, it could become one of the most significant financial reforms in modern Pentagon history.