Trump's proposed name change to War Department could cost up to $2 billion
For now, the name “War Department” is a secondary title of the Department of Defense, unofficial
Last September, Donald Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the historic name “War Department” as a secondary title of the Department of Defense, a name used during World War I and World War II.
However, President Donald Trump's directive to change the name of the Department of Defense to the War Department could cost up to $2 billion millions of dollars.
The cost of the name change, which must be approved by Congress, includes changing signs, posters, letterheads, and badges, as well as any other items at US military sites worldwide that include the Department of Defense name.
According to CBS News, congressional officials detailed the potential cost, where the new department letterhead and signage alone could cost around $1 billion.
One of the factors that would contribute most to the cost of the name change would be rewriting the digital code of all the department's internal and external websites, as well as other computer software on classified and unclassified systems, the four senior congressional officials said.
The government could decide not to make all the changes to the Department of Defense's branding, which could reduce costs; However, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that a final budget for the name change has not yet been set.
“The War Department is diligently implementing the name change ordered by President Trump and will make it permanent,” Parnell stated. "A final budget has not yet been determined due to the government shutdown by the Democrats. This change, which honors our proud tradition, is essential because it reflects the Department's primary mission: to win wars. This has always been our mission, and while we yearn for peace, we will prepare for war." Currently, The War Department is a subtitle of the Department of Defense, not its official name. Trump did not mention that an official name change requires congressional approval, but stated that War Department better conveys the message that the United States is ready to “fight to win.” According to the executive order issued by the president himself,the name “Department of War” conveys a stronger message of preparedness and determination compared to “Department of Defense,” which only highlights defensive capabilities.