An ambitious plan to rebrand the US Department of Defense with its historic title, the Department of War, could impose a staggering cost of up to $125 million on American taxpayers. This revelation comes from a new analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), released on Wednesday, which scrutinises the financial implications of former President Donald Trump's executive order.
The Executive Order and Immediate Actions
On 5 September 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order authorising 'Department of War' as a secondary title for the Pentagon. He argued the change was necessary to signal the United States was a formidable global force, criticising the current 'Department of Defense' name as "woke". The order coincided with a period of heightened military activity, including airstrikes in South America and the capture of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Despite the order requiring formal Congressional approval—which has not been forthcoming—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth enthusiastically embraced the rebrand. His staff promptly removed the large gold "Secretary of Defense" lettering outside his office, replacing it with a new sign reading "Secretary of War". Simultaneously, the Pentagon's official website switched from defence.gov to war.gov.
Staggering Cost Estimates for a Full Rebrand
The CBO report outlines a wide range of potential costs, heavily dependent on the scale and speed of implementation. A minimal, phased approach might cost just a few million dollars, potentially absorbed within the Pentagon's existing budgets. However, a broad and rapid rollout across the entire department—which manages over 6.5 million square feet of office space—could see expenses balloon to approximately $125 million.
The analysis specifies that a "modest implementation" confined to the agency itself would cost around $10 million. In contrast, a full statutory renaming mandated by Congress "could cost hundreds of millions of dollars," as it would necessitate changing countless signs, logos, seals, and documentation across all US military facilities worldwide. Pentagon officials initially declined to provide an estimate, promising one at a later date.
Political Roadblocks and Future Recommendations
The proposal faces significant political hurdles. While Republican senators including Mike Lee, Rick Scott, and Marsha Blackburn introduced legislation to make the change official, it has gained little traction in Congress. The executive order tasked Secretary Hegseth with recommending actions for a permanent name change, but the Pentagon has not disclosed what, if any, recommendations have been made.
The CBO analysis was requested by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic senator Jeff Merkley, highlighting the partisan divide over the policy. With Congress showing no serious interest in approving the rename, and the substantial taxpayer cost now laid bare, the future of the 'Department of War' title remains deeply uncertain, emblematic of the broader political clashes defining Washington.
