U.S. Media: The Department of Defense's Renaming to "Department of War" Expected to Cost Nearly $52 Million

According to a report by U.S. media on April 28, the U.S. Department of Defense has requested Congress to formalize its renaming to the "Department of War" through legislation. The department stated that the overall cost of this renaming will be nearly $52 million and will not have a "significant impact" on the defense budget request for fiscal year 2027.

The U.S. Department of Defense has requested amendments to approximately 7,600 federal laws in a 92-page legislative proposal, including officially renaming the Department of Defense to the "Department of War" and changing the title of the Secretary of Defense to "Secretary of War," among others.

The U.S. Department of Defense indicated that of the nearly $52 million budget, $44.6 million will be allocated for defense agencies and related activities, $3.5 million for military departments, $3 million for the office of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the Washington headquarters service, and $400,000 for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, combatant commands, and others. The Department of Defense stated that this expenditure will not have a "significant impact" on the defense budget for fiscal year 2027, and "actual costs are being tracked during implementation and will be announced after the renaming work is completed this fiscal year."

On September 5, 2025, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order to restore the historical name of the U.S. Department of Defense, renaming it to the "Department of War."