White House supports potential $125M expense for renaming Department of War

White House Defends Department Name Change Amid Cost Concerns

On Thursday, the White House reaffirmed its decision to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of the Army, even though watchdogs have cautioned that this could lead to taxpayer costs as high as $125 million.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) outlined that the bulk of these costs would arise from the personnel required to implement the changes. They noted, “Broadly speaking, costs include staff time spent updating document templates, revising websites, and revising letterheads.” The report also indicated that costs might be as low as $10 million, although the actual expenses could vary significantly.

In addressing the financial implications, the White House mentioned that the new title aligns better with the military’s equipment. White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated, “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of the Army has refocused efforts on readiness and lethality, and its title reflects its status as the world’s most powerful fighting force.” The administration is working closely with the Department of the Army on this executive order.

The potential costs tied to the name change depend on how swiftly the Department of Defense moves to update various items like stationery, signage, uniforms, and more. Moreover, it’s unclear if the changes will be limited to the Department of Defense or extend across all defense agencies.

Interestingly, the office of Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth didn’t provide comments on the plan when contacted.

The CBO’s analysis closely followed past changes seen at military bases between 2020 and 2023, when names of Confederate officers were removed. The estimate placed the cost of renaming nine bases around $39 million, which was a bit lower than the initial projection of up to $5 million per base.

This push for a name change began last year under President Trump, who issued an executive order in September, framing it as a return to the department’s original title. The White House articulated that the name “Department of the Army” reflects a readiness to fight, not solely to defend but to secure peace through strength.