Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the reversal of the renaming of Fort Moore in Georgia back to Fort Benning, reflecting efforts to overturn the Biden administration’s 2023 decision to rename Army bases that honored Confederate leaders. Fort Benning will now honor Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a World War I hero. Hegseth recently restored Fort Bragg’s name, originally changed to Fort Liberty, back to honor Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero. The renaming process aims to connect bases to service members with shared names who have received military honors, though the costs remain unclear.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has, for the second time, reversed the decision to rename a U.S. military base, declaring that Fort Moore in Georgia should revert to its original name, Fort Benning.
This action illustrates the Pentagon’s ongoing initiative to overturn the Biden administration’s 2023 decision to remove names that recognized Confederate leaders from Army bases, including nine in total. However, the push to restore the previous names necessitates identifying service members who share names with those Confederate figures.
Previously, Fort Benning honored Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning, a Confederate officer during the American Civil War known for his strong opposition to the abolition of slavery.
Now, Hegseth has announced that Fort Benning will honor Cpl. Fred G. Benning, who earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his service in France during World War I. The Pentagon reports that Benning was recognized for his courageous actions in October 1918, when he led his troops through intense gunfire after his platoon leader was killed in combat.
The renaming of military bases has led to decisions that undermine the valor of the military figures honored in the 2023 process, including Lt. Gen. Harold Gregory Moore Jr. and his spouse, Julia.
Moore is a highly esteemed military leader who received the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery and fought in the Battle of Ia Drang during the Vietnam War. Julia Moore played a crucial role in establishing teams responsible for personally notifying families of military casualties.
Last month, Hegseth signed an order to restore the name of a North Carolina base back to Fort Bragg, and cautioned that further changes are anticipated.
The North Carolina facility had been renamed Fort Liberty in 2023. Its original namesake, Gen. Braxton Bragg, was a Confederate general from Warrenton, North Carolina, notable for owning slaves and suffering significant losses in key Civil War battles, which contributed to the Confederacy’s defeat.
Currently, Bragg is named in honor of Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, recognized by the Army as a World War II hero who earned both a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for exceptional bravery during the Battle of the Bulge.
It remains unclear what the financial implications of the renaming will be, yet the expenses come at a time when the Trump administration is aiming to find savings through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
The Naming Commission’s report from August 2022 estimated that renaming Fort Benning to Fort Moore would incur costs of approximately $4.9 million, but it suggested there could be additional expenses. The estimated cost to rename Bragg was around $8 million, though updated costs have not been made available.
Hegseth argued that the return of the Bragg name represents a legacy for those who served at the base, calling the change regrettable. He emphasized that he intentionally referred to Bragg and Fort Benning by those names on his first day in the Pentagon.
“There’s a reason I said Bragg and Benning when I walked into the Pentagon on day one. But it’s not just Bragg and Benning,” he remarked. “There are many other service members with connections to these names. We will do our utmost to restore them.”
The lower ranks of the newly appointed namesakes reflect the thorough research undertaken by Army and defense officials to identify service members with matching names who have also received accolades for their military courage and actions.