Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing rising scrutiny over a series of base renamings that some lawmakers, including fellow Republicans, are openly criticizing. At the center of the debate is Fort Bragg, a major Army installation in North Carolina, which—after previously being renamed to sever ties with its Confederate roots—has now been rededicated to a new namesake who happens to share the same surname as the original Confederate general.

Pete Hegseth

“I think they’re trying to be too cute by Hegseth on this, saying, ‘Well, it’s Bragg, but it’s a different Bragg,’” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired Air Force brigadier general. “To me, it looks stupid as hell.” His pointed remarks captured the frustration among lawmakers from both parties over what some view as a symbolic sleight of hand.

Pete Hegseth

In June, the Pentagon announced the reversal of several of the 2023 renamings that had been instituted during the Biden administration to distance U.S. military landmarks from Confederate figures. Under the new directive, Fort Bragg would no longer commemorate Confederate General Braxton Bragg, but rather World War II paratrooper Roland Bragg. Similarly, Fort Benning in Georgia, previously named for Confederate General Henry Benning, would now honor Corporal Fred Benning, a World War I veteran.

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Biden administration

The decisions come amidst a broader reshaping of Pentagon policy by Hegseth, who assumed the post of Secretary of Defense earlier this year. Alongside the renamings, he has ordered a department-wide review of military standards, ranging from physical fitness requirements to grooming regulations, some of which had been relaxed in recent years under the previous administration.

Hegseth

Former President Donald Trump has publicly applauded both the personnel changes and the symbolic messaging. “Bragg is back,” Trump declared in a video posted online, referring specifically to the North Carolina installation. During an appearance introducing Hegseth at a recent campaign event, Trump floated the idea of rebranding the position of Defense Secretary itself. “Maybe we go back to ‘Secretary of War,’” he said, drawing applause and echoing his frequent critiques of what he terms “political correctness” in military and government settings.

Donald Trump

The President’s comments—and Hegseth’s aligning moves—have prompted concern among civil-military observers who see more than a coincidental confluence of policy and politics. In an opinion piece reacting to the Fort Bragg announcement, one columnist noted, “This isn’t about tradition. It’s about Me/Now’s inordinate fondness for insurrectionists,” alluding to Trump’s continued influence over military narratives and the Republican cultural agenda.

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Trump

Though the newly named honorees are not aligned with the Confederacy, some critics assert the resemblance in names serves to blur, rather than erase, controversial histories. “The symbolism is still potent,” said a former military historian who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “To return to these surnames, even with different stories behind them, creates confusion and suggests mixed signals about what — or who — the military chooses to honor.”

The issue arrives as the country marks a decade since the removal of the Confederate battle flag from South Carolina’s statehouse following the Charleston church shooting. At the time, that decision symbolized a shift toward reevaluating public displays of Confederate legacy. That momentum carried through to the Department of Defense, culminating in the Naming Commission’s 2023 recommendations that led to dozens of installations, ships, and streets being renamed.

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Charleston church shooting
Naming Commission

Now, that shift appears to be at least partially reversing. The Pentagon confirmed that additional installations may undergo similar reconsiderations in the months ahead, as part of what Hegseth has described as a commitment to “reclaiming military heritage.”

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Hegseth