A controversial plan from the Trump administration to rebrand the U.S. Department of Defense as the 'Department of War' could carry a staggering price tag of up to $2 billion for American taxpayers, according to a new report.
The Multi-Billion Dollar Price Tag
An investigation by NBC News, citing six sources with knowledge of the matter, reveals the potential financial impact of the name change. The report relied on information from two senior Republican congressional staffers, two senior Democratic congressional staffers, and two anonymous individuals briefed on the cost estimates.
The enormous expense is attributed to the logistical nightmare of updating thousands of physical and digital assets. This includes replacing thousands of signs, placards, letterheads, and badges across the vast department. According to the sources, new letterheads and signage alone could cost approximately $1 billion.
Beyond physical items, the project would require a complete overhaul of the department's digital presence. Rewriting the code for all its websites and internal applications is expected to contribute significantly to the total cost.
Administration Push and Historical Context
The push for the rebrand became public in September when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth teased the change on social media, posting "DEPARTMENT OF WAR" and linking to a Fox News report. The White House later confirmed the plan to HuffPost, followed by an executive order from President Trump.
Trump has framed the move as a rejection of political correctness, claiming in June that the original name was changed to "Defense" for that reason. However, the National Archives provides a different historical account, stating the Department of War, which existed from 1789 to 1947, was renamed after a 1947 law merged the departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force into the National Military Establishment, which was later renamed the Department of Defense in 1949.
During a Veterans Day speech, Trump declared, "Under the Trump administration, we are restoring the pride and the winning spirit of the United States military. That’s why we have officially renamed the Department of Defense back to the original Department of War." A new sign bearing the 'Department of War' name was already spotted outside Secretary Hegseth's office.
Political Backlash and Accusations of Hypocrisy
The determined effort to proceed with the costly renaming has sparked significant criticism, particularly because it coincides with the Trump administration's purported focus on reducing government spending. This effort has included proposals to cut millions of Americans from Medicaid and gut funding for federal agencies.
Ten Senate Democrats highlighted this contradiction in a September letter to Congressional Budget Office director Phillip Swagel. They noted that the name change requires congressional approval and requested a clear projection of the costs. The lawmakers accused the administration of prioritizing "political theater over responsible governance."
The letter further stated, "Given the Trump administration’s repeated emphasis on fiscal restraint... this symbolic renaming is both wasteful and hypocritical." Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell acknowledged in an emailed statement that a total cost has not been finalized but confirmed the new name would be "permanent," before shifting blame to Democrats for a government shutdown and his inability to provide an exact figure.
This rebranding effort also arrives amid scrutiny of other administration actions, including a series of lethal strikes against suspected drug smugglers that lawmakers from both parties have decried as illegal.
