For years, military families were told PCS moves would soon be seamless, efficient, and managed by a single contractor, but the promise of easier moves has yet to become a reality. The idea to privatize PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves aimed to fix the biggest challenges with military relocation, but instead led to new problems before it even started. Now, the Department of Defense (DoD) has officially ended the plan to privatize PCS moves.
This decision affects every family relocating, every spouse managing boxes and kids, and every service member reporting on time.
The Plan to Privatize PCS Moves, and Why It Failed
The privatization process began with the award of the Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) to HomeSafe Alliance. The aim is to streamline PCS under one manager and ease shipping worldwide. The DoD and U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) sought to fix lost or delayed shipments, unreliable carriers, and weak accountability.
By spring 2025, the plan collapsed. Promised improvements faded as HomeSafe failed to deliver obligations.
- Promises: seamless transitions, timely shipments, and reliable service.
- Reality: delays, missed pickups, broken items, and confusion over contacts.
Many moving companies declined involvement due to low reimbursement and poor logistics. Efficiency never came, exposing a major implementation gap.
On June 18, 2025, the DoD ended the GHC contract after HomeSafe failed to deliver. Four months later, in October of 2025, the Pentagon officially stopped privatizing PCS moves. The DoD will now improve and modernize the current Defense Personal Property Program (DP3) in the years ahead.
What This Decision Means for Military Families
The Pentagon’s decision not to privatize PCS moves is more than a policy update. It directly affects families by restoring a system they know and trust.
First, your move will revert to the traditional system familiar to most military families. You will work directly with your installation’s Personal Property Office, rather than a commercial company. This brings more transparency, familiar contacts, and fewer unexpected changes during your move.
Returning to the old system brings stability for families who spent months unsure whether their movers would arrive or their shipments would be tracked. The confusion from the GHC rollout should decrease.
Still, families should stay proactive:
- Book moves as early as possible to secure carriers during peak season.
- Keep detailed inventories and take photos of high-value items before pack-out.
- Monitor communication closely with your Transportation Office.
- If you are handling a Personally Procured Move (PPM), check the current reimbursement rates. The DoD has raised them to help make up for past disruptions.
Military family complaints and advocacy drove this reversal. Feedback gathered by TRANSCOM, the Military Family Advisory Network, and service branches exposed problems with privatization. This decision shows that your voice matters for mission and family readiness.
For instance, Marissa Thompson, a Marine spouse, voiced her frustration about delays and confusion, attracting TRANSCOM’s attention and helping end privatization. Her effort shows the impact of collective voices on real change.
What It Means for Military Readiness
Ending PCS privatization improves military readiness. Moves are strategic, not just personal. When service members face moving delays, it disrupts staffing, deployments, and readiness.
Privatization was intended to boost efficiency, but it ultimately caused more problems. Delayed or mishandled shipments forced commands to address household issues instead of training or operations. Ending privatization avoids reliance on a single contractor and allows TRANSCOM to work with trusted carriers.
DoD officials now aim to make the system more reliable by increasing oversight, upgrading technology, and holding carriers accountable. Service members should see fewer disruptions and faster, smoother moves.
In short, the Pentagon’s reversal wasn’t just about bad customer service. It was about protecting the operational stability of the U.S. military.
Moving Forward: Stability, Not Experimentation
For now, PCS moves will remain familiar. The DoD is modernizing the Defense Personal Property Program with better tracking tools, improved data sharing, and more transportation office training.
This decision brings more predictability to moving, one of military life’s greatest stresses. Predictability doesn't guarantee perfection; capacity limits, staffing shortages, and peak seasons remain. Now, the DoD aims to fix these issues directly instead of depending on a private contractor. The goal is: "A move that feels routine, not risky." By planning early, documenting, and staying informed, families can ensure smoother transitions.
By deciding not to privatize PCS moves, the Pentagon is making it clear that military families’ voices matter and that mission readiness depends on their stability.
For families moving in 2026 and after: plan early, document carefully, and stay informed through your transportation office. Military life always involves moving, but now it’s managed by those who truly understand its impact. Even still, you want to be the driver of your own bus whenever possible, so advocate for your family as an added layer of preparedness, pre-PCS.
Suggested reads:
- Rober Dawson,TRANSCOM's Personal Property Director, Will No Longer Oversee Military Moves
- “We've Never Seen Anything Like This": Military Families Flood Food Pantries as Shutdown Triggers 300% Surge
- DoD Terminates Contract With HomeSafe Alliance After Ongoing Military Household Goods Shipment Shortfalls
