The Trump administration’s plan to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War could cost up to $125 million, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said Wednesday.
The estimate comes months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order last year saying the name “just sounded to me better” and was “much more appropriate.”
A modest implementation, mainly updating the Office of the Secretary of Defense, could cost about $10 million, the CBO said. Costs could rise depending on how widely and quickly the renaming is applied across the military.
Expenses include updating document templates, websites, letterheads, signage, and ceremonial items. How aggressive the Department of Defense is with the change will largely determine the final cost.
The CBO noted that these costs would likely be paid from existing budgets, but the total could reach $125 million if the renaming is implemented broadly and rapidly.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) criticized the plan, saying, “Trump continues to make it clear that he has no interest in helping working Americans get ahead… all while he wastes money renaming agencies and renovating the White House.”
Legally, the Department of Defense can only become the Department of War through Congressional legislation. Trump cannot make the change official on his own, and the Department has yet to submit the necessary actions to make the renaming official.
This is part of a broader trend under the Trump administration to rename military assets, including bases and ships, often sparking controversy over historical and political implications.
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