U.S. President Donald Trump's order to rename the U.S. Department of Defense as the Department of War has drawn a swift backlash from Pentagon officials and lawmakers, who warn the move is politically driven, logistically unworkable and financially wasteful.

Inside the Pentagon, officials expressed alarm at the sweeping rebranding effort, which would require updating seals, documents, signage, uniforms and even merchandise across more than 700,000 facilities worldwide.

Politico, citing an anonymous defense official, reported that the initiative would amount to "a million small headaches," draining time and resources better spent on readiness.

Retired Colonel Larry Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, told The Hill that the cost could run into hundreds of millions of dollars. "Whatever is displayed – from stationery to monuments – will have to be recarved, reinscribed. You're talking about millions of dollars being spent on a name change," he said.

While Trump's order is already in effect, a formal name change would still require Congressional approval. Several Republican senators have introduced legislation to formalize the shift – but internal divisions persist.

The proposal took fire from the top Senate Republican overseeing Pentagon spending. Mitch McConnell, the former Senate majority leader reiterated his criticism that Trump's 2026 Pentagon budget request lags inflation, arguing the administration is prioritizing symbolic gestures over real investments.

"If we call it the Dept. of War, we'd better equip the military to actually prevent and win wars," McConnell wrote on X. "Can't preserve American primacy if we're unwilling to spend substantially more on our military than Carter or Biden. 'Peace through strength' requires investment, not just rebranding."

Other Republican lawmakers voiced similar frustration. Republican Congressman Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, called the initiative "absolutely freaking nothing," saying it sends no meaningful signal.

Democrats were quick to denounce the move. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the renaming effort was "nothing more than an effort to distract" from urgent priorities such as troop readiness.

Representative Darren Soto took a lighter jab. "Trump is begging for the Nobel Peace Prize. This should cinch it for him right?" he quipped on X.