Donald Trump has a whim that will cost America $2B. So naturally, he isn’t waiting for Congress’ approval

President Trump’s executive order to rename the Department of Defense to the “Department of War” could potentially drain the federal budget by a staggering $2 billion, according to a recent report by NBC News.

That massive price tag was revealed after NBC spoke with two senior Republican congressional staffers, two senior Democratic congressional staffers, and two other individuals who had been briefed on the potential cost. If you’re wondering how a simple name change could possibly cost that much, the details are pretty shocking.

The bulk of the expense comes from replacing thousands of physical items across U.S. military sites around the globe. We’re talking about signs, badges, placards, and official letterheads. Changing just the stationery and signage alone could cost up to $1 billion. This is honestly terrible financial planning; wasting billions on rebranding when that money could be used for actual defense upgrades feels wasteful.

A name change is more important than so many things to Trump

One of the biggest financial headaches, however, is located in the digital realm. According to four senior congressional staffers, the department has to completely rewrite the digital code for all its websites and internal computer software. This includes systems operating on both classified and unclassified networks. Rewriting all that code across the entire department is an immense and costly undertaking.

President Trump signed the executive order to initiate this potentially expensive change back in September. The White House website explains that the name change is meant to ensure “peace through strength.” They feel the name “Department of War” better demonstrates the nation’s “ability and willingness to fight and win wars,” rather than just focusing on defense. This perspective suggests a proactive stance, not just a reactive one. The administration is also giving a nod to history, pointing out that President George Washington first established the original Department of War in 1789 to oversee the military and navy.

They aren’t waiting for Congress to formally approve the bill, either. Internally, the change is already happening fast. Secretary Pete Hegseth has already transitioned from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War, and he’s using the new title in all official business. His office and official portraits inside the Pentagon have been updated to reflect this new title. Steve Feinberg has also transitioned and now holds the title of Deputy Secretary of War.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the department is moving quickly on the directive. In a statement, Parnell said the Department of War is “aggressively implementing the name change directed by President Trump” and is working to make the name permanent. He emphasized that the shift is a “nod to our proud heritage” and is “essential because it reflects the Department’s core mission: winning wars.” Parnell added that while the department always hopes for peace, they will always prepare for war.