Trump's Pentagon name change may cost up to $2b
The change, which requires congressional approval, would involve updating thousands of signs, documents, digital systems and markings across US military facilities worldwide
President Donald Trump's order to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War could carry a price tag of as much as $2 billion, according to estimates reported by NBC News.
The change, which requires congressional approval, would involve updating thousands of signs, documents, digital systems and markings across US military facilities worldwide.
Senior congressional staffers from both parties told NBC News that replacing department signage and letterhead alone could cost about $1bn. A substantial portion of the overall expense would also stem from rewriting digital code for the Pentagon's extensive network of classified and unclassified systems.
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Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said no final estimate has been completed. "The Department of War is aggressively implementing the name change directed by President Trump, and is making the name permanent," he said in an emailed statement.
"A final cost estimate has not been determined at this time due to the Democrat shutdown furloughing many of our critical civilians."
The White House referred cost-related questions back to the Pentagon. Trump has justified the move as a return to the department's historical identity.
"That's why we have officially renamed the Department of Defense back to the original name Department of War," he said during a Veterans Day address.
Although Trump authorised the shift through an executive order allowing Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to adopt the title "secretary of war", a formal change still requires an act of Congress. While some Republican lawmakers have backed the proposal, others have privately raised concerns, and several Democrats have dismissed the idea as unnecessary.
Sen Tim Kaine said the effort amounted to political theatrics, telling a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: "Congress has not authorised the name change … and as far as I'm concerned, there's no effort for Congress to make the name change."
Legislation to officially rename the department has been introduced in both chambers, but the administration has not launched a formal push to advance it. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has already updated some digital platforms and signage, though many markers — including key building nameplates — remain unchanged.
