{"id":58519,"date":"2019-03-05T20:50:09","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T20:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/03\/05\/dont-let-the-military-moving-process-end-up-in-the-same-situation-as-privatized-housing-senators-warn\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:19:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:19:03","slug":"dont-let-the-military-moving-process-end-up-in-the-same-situation-as-privatized-housing-senators-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2019\/03\/05\/dont-let-the-military-moving-process-end-up-in-the-same-situation-as-privatized-housing-senators-warn\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t let the military moving process end up in the same situation as privatized housing, senators warn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Don\u2019t make the same mistakes with privatizing the management of household goods<\/a> moves that DoD did with privatized military housing. And listen to military families, senators cautioned the commander of U.S. Transportation Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials must get the process right so that the household goods program doesn\u2019t \u201cend up where we are with the housing situation<\/a>,\u201d said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., during a hearing Tuesday of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was referring to situations such as mold and mice in some privatized military housing, resulting partly from what some have said have been inadequate oversight and accountability on the part of DoD and the services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI really want to make sure we get this right, in terms of accountability, predictability and customer satisfaction,\u201d Tillis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the wake of problems such as damaged household goods and delayed moves, a number of frustrated military families<\/a> have called on TRANSCOM to hold moving companies accountable for problems. TRANSCOM officials are in the early stages of developing a plan to contract out the core function of managing military moves to a private company, with a current timeline of having the transition completed by the beginning of peak summer season in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. asked TRANSCOM commander Gen. Steve Lyons for a commitment to make the needs of military families<\/a> their priority in their effort, citing concerns raised by Army wife Megan Harless, member of an advisory panel convened by TRANSCOM. Harless stated the advisory panel has not been asked to weigh in on the idea of privatizing the household goods process, and expressed concern that TRANSCOM hasn\u2019t fully researched the idea, and isn\u2019t considering some other options that could help military families in the short term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is all about improving curbside service for military families. That\u2019s our North Star. That is the only reason for this effort,\u201d said Lyons, who said he has received more letters on the issue of household goods than any other TRANSCOM issue in the six months he has been commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI agree with the criticisms of the program. We need to take action to remedy the program as it exists today,\u201d he said, adding that DoD has been studying the issue since 1996.<\/p>\n\n\n\t