Trump’s ‘Department of War’ Name Change Could Cost $125 Million

Jan. 14, 2026, 8:29 PM UTC

President Donald Trump’s move to revive the name “Department of War” could cost anywhere from a few million dollars to more than $125 million, depending on how aggressively the Pentagon tries to carry out the change, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

That wide range reflects uncertainty over how the Pentagon plans to implement Trump’s September 2025 executive order authorizing the name, which Trump said “demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice.”

CBO said it had obtained a limited spending report from the Pentagon’s ...

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