The Pentagon has formally requested congressional approval to codify renaming the Department of Defense back to the Department of War, with an estimated price tag of approximately $52 million in implementation costs. The request comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in the fall to implement the change, which also includes redesignating the Secretary of Defense as the Secretary of War.
The legislative proposal estimates the rebranding would require roughly 7,600 changes to federal law. According to the department's estimate, about $44.6 million would go toward Defense Agencies and field activities, while another $3.5 million would cover military departments, $3 million for Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth's office and Washington Headquarters Services, and $400,000 for the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands and National Guard Bureau.
The Pentagon stated that most implementation costs have been absorbed during fiscal year 2026 and said the change would have no "significant impact" on Trump's fiscal year 2027 defense budget request. The department has already updated its website and social media accounts to reflect the new name, and Hegseth's office nameplate now reads "Secretary of War."
What the Left Is Saying
House Democrats have criticized the Pentagon's request amid ongoing concerns about household costs facing American families. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote on X: "The American people can't afford groceries, gas, or rent — and the Pentagon has ALREADY wasted $50 million on renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Now they want more money."
Some progressive critics have argued the name change highlights what they describe as an expansive view of presidential power. Former Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican who became a Libertarian, wrote on X that "The name change really does help highlight how rogue, unconstitutional, and unlawful the president's actions are," referring to Trump's executive order approach.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican allies in Congress have signaled support for codifying the rebranding. Rep. Greg Steube of Florida and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah have introduced legislation in their respective chambers seeking to formalize the name change through statute rather than executive action alone.
The Pentagon's legislative proposal frames the change as a return to historical principles. "The revision to the designation of the Department serves as a fundamental reminder of the importance and reverence of our core mission, to fight and win wars," the proposal reads. "It serves as a strategic objective in which to measure and prioritize all activities."
What the Numbers Show
The Pentagon's $52 million estimate is notably lower than the Congressional Budget Office's January projection of up to $125 million if the change were adopted "broadly and rapidly" throughout the department.
Cost breakdown from the Pentagon proposal: $44.6 million for Defense Agencies and field activities; $3.5 million for military departments; $3 million for Hegseth's office and Washington Headquarters Services; $400,000 for Joint Staff, Combatant Commands and National Guard Bureau.
Historical context: The Department of War was originally established in 1789 under President George Washington. It was later replaced by the National Military Establishment in 1947 before being redesignated as the Department of Defense in 1949.
The Bottom Line
Lawmakers will now weigh the Pentagon's request as they work on the fiscal year 2027 defense policy bill. The gap between the Pentagon's $52 million estimate and the CBO's higher projection may become a point of discussion during congressional hearings. Some Republicans favor codifying the executive order through legislation, while Democrats have questioned prioritizing rebranding amid broader economic concerns facing constituents.