Rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War will cost between $10 million and $125 million — but could cost hundreds of millions more if lawmakers make it official, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Why it matters: The name change is part of a larger overhaul of the U.S. military sought by the Trump administration, which has emphasized physical appearances and wartime messaging while seeking a record setting $1.5 trillion defense budget.
Driving the news: The CBO detailed its findings Wednesday in a letter to Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
- The office cautioned its estimate is "uncertain," however, because the Pentagon declined to share information about its implementation.
The fine print: Total costs will vary based on how quickly and widely the "War" nomenclature is adopted, including on signs, letterheads and websites. (What was once defense.gov is now war.gov.)
- A report obtained by the CBO lists $1.9 million in renaming costs across five organizations within the Office of the Secretary of Defense for items such as flags, plaques, badges and training materials.
- But that report "may underestimate how much the name change has cost DOD to date," the CBO said.
What they're saying: "Simply put: Trump does not have the authority to rename DOD without an act of Congress," Merkley said in a statement.
- "This move is performative government at its worst and does nothing to advance national security or help service members and their families."
The big picture: Some of the administration's most ambitious projects — like the Golden Dome missile shield and the Golden Fleet naval revitalization — come with ready-for-market names.
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