US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth installed a new sign at the US Department of Defense building. Renaming this ministry to the “Ministry of War” could cost between 10 and 125 million dollars. If Congress were to formally approve the change, the total costs could reach hundreds of millions of dollars, according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Although the name change of the department can only be officially approved by Congress, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in September of last year ordering the Department of Defense to use the name “Department of War” as a secondary name.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released cost estimates for the renaming at the request of Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Jeff Merkley. However, the CBO emphasized that these estimates are not completely reliable because the Pentagon did not provide all the necessary data.
Senator Merkley pointed out: “Trump does not have the authority to rename the Department of Defense without congressional approval. This move is the most extreme form of executive management and does nothing to strengthen national security or help soldiers and their families.”
CBO’s estimate shows that just renaming the five organizations within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, including the cost of flags, plaques, badges and training materials, would be about $1.9 million. The total costs could be significantly higher.
Historically, the United States had a Department of War until the end of World War II, when it was renamed the Department of Defense under the National Security Act of 1947. Democrats argue that any name change without amending the law would conflict with existing legislation.
(Vijesti.ba)
