Hegseth claims that Fort Bragg will return with a new approach

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday directed the U.S. Army to change the name of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, but with a twist. 

Hegseth issued a memorandum while on a U.S. Air Force C-17 before touching down in Stuttgart, Germany, instructing the alteration of the North Carolina base’s name to Fort Roland L. Bragg, deviating from its previous association with a Confederate general.

“That’s right. Bragg is back,” said Hegseth after signing the memo. 

The entrance to Fort Liberty in North Carolina.  (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

This military facility stands as one of the world’s largest and serves as the home for the renowned 82nd Airborne Division of the Army and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

The memo stated, “The directive pays tribute to the individual bravery and unselfish devotion of all those who have undergone training to defend and secure victory in our nation’s conflicts, including PFC. Bragg, and aligns with the longstanding and illustrious legacy of the installation.”

In addition to the North Carolina base, several other Army posts were renamed, including Fort Benning, home to the Army’s infantry school, to Fort Moore, after the late Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, a Vietnam War commander, and Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos, named after Gen. Richard Edward Cavazos, a four-star general who fought in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Fort Liberty is the name given to replace Fort Bragg in North Carolina. On Monday, Defense Secretary ordered Fort Liberty to be renamed back to Fort Bragg.  (Getty Images)

At the time the Army was renaming several bases, Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ty Seidule said at a commission meeting that Fort Liberty was chosen as the new name because “liberty remains the greatest American value.”