Full Breakdown
Pentagon Seeks Congressional Codification of Department of War Renaming
4/29/2026, 4:39:22 AM
Renaming Request
The Department of Defense has submitted a legislative package asking Congress to rename it “Department of War” and change “Secretary of Defense” to “Secretary of War.” The bill would amend roughly 7,600 statutory references. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rick Scott (R-Florida) sponsor the measure in the House and Senate.
Background and Executive Order
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in September 2025 directing the Pentagon to revive the historic “Department of War,” a title used from 1789 until its 1949 redesignation as the Department of Defense. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth followed with guidance in October 2025, updating the website, social-media handles, signage, and installing a new plaque at the Pentagon’s main entrance.
Cost Estimates and Scope
The Pentagon reports $52 million in FY 2026 expenditures, mainly $44.6 million for defense agencies and field activities, with smaller amounts for the military department, the Secretary’s office, and the Joint Staff. The proposal calls for about 7,600 changes to the U.S. Code.
Department Position
Defense officials say the renaming “serves as a fundamental reminder of the importance and reverence of our core mission, to fight and win wars” and frames it as a “strategic objective.” They assert the $52 million cost will have “no significant impact on the resources requested in the FY 2027 President’s Budget.”
Criticism and Opposition
Senate Democrats called the initiative “wasteful and hypocritical,” saying it prioritizes “political theater over responsible governance” and diverts funds from essential national-security functions, contradicting the administration’s fiscal-restraint rhetoric.
Conflicting Cost Projections
The Pentagon’s $52 million figure contrasts with the CBO’s January estimate of $10 million to $125 million, noting uncertainty without a detailed plan. The CBO warned costs could rise to $125 million if the change is implemented broadly and rapidly.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The revision to the designation of the Department serves as a fundamental reminder of the importance and reverence of our core mission, to fight and win wars.” — Defense Department proposal
- “Given the Trump administration’s repeated emphasis on fiscal restraint … this symbolic renaming is both wasteful and hypocritical,” — Senate Democrats
- “You go from defense to war because you want to be proactive about peace through strength.” — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
- “And really, I gave a speech in front of generals about what the ethos of the War Department is all about, because I want it to go through every echelon of this department.” — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
Next Steps
Congress will debate the bills in the upcoming session. Lawmakers have asked for a post-implementation cost report before voting, and the CBO may issue an updated estimate.
