Trump burns millions rebranding Pentagon as "Department of War"

President Trump signed Executive Order 14347 on Sept. 5, 2025. The order directs the Pentagon to use "Department of War" as a secondary public title for ceremonial and branding contexts. The order allows the Defense Secretary to use the title "Secretary of War" in non-statutory settings. Shortly after signing, the Pentagon rebranded its official website to war.gov.

An executive order cannot legally change the Department's statutory name. Only Congress can alter the Department of Defense's legal name by passing legislation. Congress reorganized the War Department in 1947-1949, establishing the Department of Defense as the statutory name. The executive order preserves all statutory references to "Department of Defense."

The CBCongressional Budget Office estimated in Jan. 2026 that implementing the secondary title could cost $10-125 million depending on scope and speed. A modest implementation would cost about $10 million; broad and rapid adoption could reach $125 million. If Congress passes legislation for a full statutory renaming, costs could reach hundreds of millions of dollars for updating all legal references, contracts, and materials.

The order did not change military authorities, budget authority, or the chain of command. All statutory powers and the FY2025 defense budget of approximately $850 billion remain unchanged. Military operations, command structure, and legal authorities continue under existing law regardless of the ceremonial title change.