4:21Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addresses the press following a briefing for the House of Representatives regarding the situation in Venezuela, on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 7, 2026.Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
The Congressional Budget Office anticipates that taxpayers will incur costs ranging from $10 million to $125 million for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to rebrand the Defense Department as the "Department of War" — a figure that could escalate to "hundreds of millions" if it were to be officially adopted.
This estimate is the first governmental cost projection since President Donald Trump expressed his desire last fall to "restore" the name of the Defense Department to the War Department.
Only Congress holds the authority to alter the designation of a federal agency, prompting Trump last September to sign an executive order advocating for the new name to be utilized as a "secondary title," effectively a nickname for the extensive department.
In this Sept. 5, 2025, file image, workers take down sign letters at the Pentagon following President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order aimed at renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War, in Washington, D.C.Mike Pesoli/AP, FILE
"I believe it conveys a message of triumph. I believe it communicates, indeed, a message of power. We are very strong," Trump remarked.
Hegseth welcomed the new title on social media, referring to himself as the "secretary of war" and changing out signs around the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
As per the nonpartisan CBO, the expense is expected to be about $10 million if the name change is confined to Hegseth’s office.
Beyond that, any cost estimate would rise considerably based on how quickly — and how extensively — the name is altered.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to the media after a briefing for the House of Representatives on the situation in Venezuela, on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 7, 2026.Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
For instance, the expenses would be reduced if the Defense Department gradually replaces stationery, signage, and nameplates over time as needed, rather than changing those items all at once. Renaming a single Army base can cost approximately $5 million, according to the CBO.
The Defense Department’s yearly budget approaches $1 trillion.
"Costs would amount to at least several million dollars if DoD adopted a gradual implementation, but they could reach up to $125 million if the name change were executed broadly and swiftly throughout the department," the CBO stated. "A statutory renaming could incur costs of hundreds of millions of dollars depending on how Congress and DoD decide to carry out the change."
The Pentagon did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com