A Republican-led effort in Congress could once again change the name of Georgia’s storied Army post, requiring Fort Benning to return to the name Fort Moore. The proposal is part of a larger defense spending package that recently passed in the House of Representatives.
According to Military.com, lawmakers tucked the measure inside the sweeping legislation that funds military programs nationwide. If approved, the change would undo a Trump administration move that restored the Benning name earlier this year.
The renaming battle underscores an ongoing clash over military traditions, historical memory, and modern values. For many, the back-and-forth over the post’s identity has become symbolic of the broader political divides shaping U.S. defense policies.
Honoring the Moores’ legacy
The legislation calls for reinstating the name Fort Moore to honor Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife, Julia. Hal Moore was a decorated combat leader in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, co-author of a bestselling book about wartime leadership, and a revered figure in Army training.
Julia Moore, equally respected, championed stronger support systems for military families during her lifetime. Both are buried at the installation now at the center of this political tug-of-war.
Their son, retired Army Lt. Col. Stephen Moore, praised the House’s move, saying the couple represents examples for soldiers and families to emulate. He urged troops to “be a warrior like my father or lead a warrior family like my mother.”
Shifting identities under presidents
The post was originally named for Henry Benning, a Confederate general and fervent secessionist who argued against emancipation in racist terms. That identity endured for over a century before the Biden administration directed the removal of Confederate names from nine U.S. bases, leading to the 2023 designation of Fort Moore.
In 2025, the Trump administration reversed the move, announcing that the Benning name would instead honor Cpl. Fred Benning, a World War I hero awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. The Pentagon said the restoration highlighted the installation’s long history of training soldiers and honoring American valor.
The reversal drew immediate criticism from Democrats, including Rep. Marilyn Strickland of Washington, who labeled it “a ploy” during a summer hearing. Others argued it undermined bipartisan efforts to distance military symbols from Confederate associations.
Costs and congressional debates
Changing the post’s name has come at a significant cost to taxpayers. The Pentagon estimated $653,000 for the switch back to Benning in April, covering signage, uniforms, and ID updates, after spending roughly $830,000 during the 2023 shift to Moore.
Officials defended the expenditures as necessary for maintaining consistency across the Army’s systems and installations. Critics, however, said the repeated renaming created unnecessary expenses driven by politics rather than military priorities.
The Pentagon has declined to weigh in directly on the House legislation, saying it does not comment on pending measures. Still, defense officials confirmed name-related costs are tracked closely and updated as part of their internal audits.
Fort Gordon also in the spotlight
The Fort Benning debate came alongside a second proposal within the same House bill concerning Fort Gordon near Augusta. Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia inserted a measure to rename the post Fort Shughart Gordon, in honor of two Delta Force snipers killed during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu.
Scott argued that the pairing of Randall Shughart and Gary Gordon in the name reflects their shared Medal of Honor heroism. He described the amendment as a way to ensure their sacrifices are “remembered forever” together.
Fort Gordon was originally named for Confederate Gen. John Gordon, who was later linked to the Ku Klux Klan. Like Benning, it was renamed during the Biden administration in 2023, taking the name of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, before being changed back by the Trump administration to honor Gary Gordon individually.
