10
Loading video...
By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that he's restoring the name of Fort Robert E. Lee and other current or former military instillations that were previously named after soldiers that led the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Trump told U.S. Army soldiers during a speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, "For a little breaking news, we are also going to be restoring the names to Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Polk, Fort A.P. Hill and Fort Robert E. Lee."
As with the recent renaming of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, Defense officials said Tuesday they selected service members with matching last names to rename the bases—ensuring the installations no longer officially bore names linked to the Confederacy.
Read More on U.S.
Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon via email on Tuesday night for comment.
Why It Matters
In February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's directive reinstated the original name of the renowned special operations base in North Carolina, officially returning it to Fort Bragg. The move reverses a 2023 Biden-era decision that had renamed the installation Fort Liberty as part of a broader effort to remove U.S. military base names honoring Confederate figures.
...
"It's a beautiful sight to be with you in a place called Fort Bragg," President Trump said during a visit to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. "Can you believe they changed that name in the last administration for a little bit? We'll forget all about that."
Fort Bragg was originally named after Gen. Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general from Warrenton, North Carolina, who was also a slaveholder. The new name of the Army's largest installation honors Army Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a Maine native who enlisted in July 1943 at the age of 23. He completed his training at the very base that now bears his name before deploying to the European theater during World War II, where he served with the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps.
Forts Being Restored to Previous Confederate Names
Fort Pickett, located near Blackstone in southern Virginia, was renamed Fort Barfoot in March 2023. The base had previously been named for Confederate Maj. Gen. George Pickett, known for leading the ill-fated "Pickett's Charge" at the Battle of Gettysburg. It was renamed to honor Tech. Sgt. Van T. Barfoot, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.
In central Texas, Fort Hood — one of the Army's largest bases — became Fort Cavazos in May 2023. It was originally named for Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood, a commander noted for his aggressive and often costly battlefield tactics. The installation was renamed after Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, the Army's first Hispanic four-star general.
Fort Gordon, located near Augusta, Georgia, was renamed Fort Eisenhower in October 2023. The base had honored Confederate Gen. John Brown Gordon, who was one of Gen. Robert E. Lee's most trusted commanders and later became a staunch defender of the Lost Cause narrative. The base now recognizes President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander in World War II and 34th U.S. president.
In Louisiana, Fort Polk — located near Leesville — was renamed Fort Johnson in June 2023. It had been named for Confederate Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk, an Episcopal bishop turned general who died in battle during the Atlanta Campaign. The new name honors Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a World War I soldier who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Fort A.P. Hill, based in Caroline County, Virginia, was renamed Fort Walker in August 2023. The base had been named for Confederate Lt. Gen. Ambrose Powell Hill, who served under Gens. Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. Its new namesake, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, was a Civil War surgeon and remains the only woman ever awarded the Medal of Honor.
While there was never a base officially called Fort Robert E. Lee, Fort Lee in Virginia bore the name of the Confederacy's top general and symbol of its military effort. In April 2023, it was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams to honor Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, two pioneering African American leaders in the Army's logistics and personnel corps. Located near Petersburg, the installation remains a vital training center for sustainment operations.
What People Are Saying
The Republicans Against Trump account posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Donald Trump just announced he will restore the names of Fort Robert E. Lee and six other military bases honoring Confederate traitors. Because nothing says patriotism like honoring enemies of the United States."
Hegseth said Tuesday: "We're not a college or a university. We're not interested in your woke garbage and your political correctness."
What Happens Next
Trump has used the Army's anniversary as the centerpiece for a military parade set for Saturday—an event that also marks his 79th birthday. Tanks and other military vehicles will roll through city streets, symbolizing how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces following his return to the White House this year.
Serving as a counterpoint to the parade, "No Kings Day" protests are planned nationwide on Saturday, organized by critics who oppose what they view as the administration's increasingly authoritarian policies. Earlier Tuesday, Trump vowed to escalate immigration raids and warned that any further demonstrations would be met with an even stronger show of force.
Update: 6/10/25, 5:10 p.m. ET: This article was updated to include new information.
Update: 6/10/25, 7:18 p.m. ET: This article was updated to include new information.
Correction, 05/27/26, 5:45 a.m. ET: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to Donald Trump as “former president.” He was president at the time in question. The article has been updated.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines