Post by : Badri Ariffin

Washington, D.C., January 15, 2026: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports that former President Donald Trump’s initiative to rename the Pentagon as the “Department of War” could cost U.S. taxpayers between several million dollars and as much as $125 million.

This broad estimation arises from uncertainty surrounding the Pentagon's execution of Trump's September 2025 executive order, which he maintains showcases the country's readiness to engage in military confrontations swiftly.

According to the CBO, the Pentagon's comptroller has already accounted for $1.9 million spent across five Defense Department branches on updated training materials, plaques, and flags. This amount reflects just a 30-day expenditure and does not encompass several other departments, hinting at higher total costs.

Since any official cabinet title changes require Congressional approval, the name “Department of War” remains a secondary designation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed support for this name within a broader agenda of a combative military ethos, though no official legislative initiative for a name change has been put forth.

The CBO predicts that a limited implementation of the name change, primarily within Hegseth’s office, might incur expenses of around $10 million. These costs would largely stem from administrative modifications such as updating letterheads and ceremonial items. Conversely, a rapid, department-wide transition could escalate costs to more than $125 million.

CBO Director Phillip Swagel mentioned to Democratic senators that most uncertainty arises from the Pentagon's lack of detailed planning. Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon criticized the proposal, labeling it a “vanity project” that offers no real benefit to national security or military families.

The analysis also draws parallels with previous name changes, noting that the Biden administration's project to remove Confederate-associated names from military bases incurred costs of approximately $5 million per base, exceeding initial predictions. CBO cautioned that if Congress proceeds to officially rename the department, expenses may surpass hundreds of millions of dollars.

#Global News