Mystery Policy Alert: Bill Codifies Unknown Executive Order 14347 into Permanent Law

The Ultimate Blank Check: What This Bill Actually Does

This one is a head-scratcher, folks. The “Restoring the United States Department of War Act” (SEC. 1.) has a deceptively simple goal: to take an existing policy, Executive Order 14347, and make it permanent federal law (SEC. 2.). If you’re like me, your next question is, “Wait, what is Executive Order 14347?” That’s the entire problem. The bill doesn't tell us. It’s essentially a piece of legislation designed to pass a rule—any rule—without actually defining the rule for public or Congressional review.

Making the Unknown Permanent: The Real-World Impact of SEC. 2

Think of it this way: an Executive Order (EO) is usually a temporary policy directive from the President. It can be changed or reversed by the next administration. By codifying EO 14347, this bill gives whatever is inside that order the full, lasting power of a statute passed by Congress. If that EO required, say, every federal agency to use a specific, expensive new software system, that requirement is now locked in until Congress passes another full law to undo it. For the everyday taxpayer, this means that potentially costly, complex, or controversial rules are being made permanent without anyone knowing what they are. This is a massive leap of faith, or maybe just a massive blind spot, in the legislative process.

The Title Twist: Why Bring Back the 'Department of War'?

Beyond the mystery policy, the title itself is a huge flag. The U.S. Department of War was renamed the Department of Defense back in 1947. Naming this bill the “Restoring the United States Department of War Act” (SEC. 1.) suggests a major administrative or structural shift in how the military and defense policy are managed. If the bill intends to rename or restructure the Department of Defense, that’s a massive change that affects everything from military contracts to troop deployment—and it’s all tied up with the unknown contents of EO 14347. We are looking at a potential military/defense shakeup where the specifics are hidden behind a number.

The Cost of Transparency: What We Lose in the Process

When Congress passes a new law, it usually involves months of hearings, debates, and amendments where everyone—lobbyists, citizens, experts—gets to weigh in on the specifics. By codifying an existing Executive Order, this bill bypasses that entire process for the substance of the policy. The result is a significant reduction in oversight. For busy people, this means rules that could affect your job, your business, or your taxes are being cemented into law without the necessary public scrutiny. You can't fight a policy you can’t read. This is a high-stakes move that prioritizes speed and permanence over the public’s right to know what laws are being made in their name.