Department Of Defense’s ‘Department Of War’ Glow-Up Will Cost $125 Million. Is That A Lot? Donald Trump’s executive order to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, based on a claim of it being “woke,” has been met with resistance. A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimates the rebranding could cost between $10 million and $125 million. Democrats have introduced the SERVE Act to prevent presidents from naming federal properties or projects after themselves, citing the significant cost and narcissism involved.

• Donald Trump ordered the Department of Defense be rebranded as the Department of War, calling the former name “woke.”
• The name change requires Congressional approval; without it, it’s a secondary, unofficial name.
• A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimates the rebrand could cost $10 million for modest implementation and up to $125 million for full implementation.
• The Pentagon has 6.5 million square feet of office space with many signs and logos needing alteration.
• Democrats introduced the Stop Executive Renaming for Vanity and Ego (SERVE) Act to bar presidents from naming things after themselves.
• The SERVE Act also prohibits the use of federal funds for such “vanity projects” while Americans struggle with costs of living.
• Critics argue the name change is a vanity project for Pete Hegseth and Trump, comparing it to other instances of Trump naming public entities after himself.
• The article contrasts the potential cost of the rebranding with the perceived hypocrisy of Republicans being concerned about smaller spending on arts.
• The SERVE Act aims to prevent actions perceived as undermining democracy and moving toward authoritarianism, similar to dictatorships.