The Pentagon building in Arlington, Va., April 21, 2023. (Tom Brenner/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"The scale of those costs would depend on how aggressively DOD implemented the title and how it prioritized renaming activities over other ongoing missions."
On the low end, the change could cost as little as $10 million, the CBO said.
Asked if the switch is worth the price tag, the White House told Fox News Digital the name is more in line with what the nation's armed services are equipped to do.
"Under President Trump’s leadership, the now aptly named Department of War is refocused on readiness and lethality — and its title now reflects its status as the most powerful fighting force in the world. The White House is working hand-in-glove with the Department of War on implementation of the Executive Order," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.
The estimates of the name change hinge on whether the DOD intends to immediately replace items like stationery, signage, nameplates, uniforms, shirts and more — or whether those items can be phased out over time as they naturally make their way out of circulation. It also depends on whether the change is limited to the Department of Defense itself or all the defense-wide agencies under its purview.
Secretary Pete Hegseth's office at the Department of War did not respond to a request for comment on its plans.
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The White House is seen the day after President Donald Trump announced U.S. military strikes on nuclear sites in Iran on June 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
"It was under this name that the Department of War, along with the later-formed Department of the Navy, won the War of 1812, World War I and World War II."
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The CBO noted the department’s name can be officially changed only by an act of Congress.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-defends-aptly-named-department-war-watchdog-flags-up-125m-cost