Pentagon seeks to codify Department of War title as renaming costs total $50M

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth finishes the installation of a Department of War plaque at the River Entrance in front of the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Nov. 13, 2025. (Madelyn Keech/Defense Department) WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is asking Congress to codify the Department of War name. A Defense Department legislative proposal sent to Capitol Hill this month estimates the name change to date has cost about $50 million, and the proposal would make roughly 7,600 conforming changes to federal law. Costs are being collected and will be available after the fiscal year 2026 is completed. “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,” the proposal reads.

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