{"id":78919,"date":"2025-10-16T01:47:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T01:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2025\/10\/16\/dod-decides-against-privatizing-service-members-household-goods-moves\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:55:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:55:49","slug":"dod-decides-against-privatizing-service-members-household-goods-moves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2025\/10\/16\/dod-decides-against-privatizing-service-members-household-goods-moves\/","title":{"rendered":"DOD decides against privatizing service members\u2019 household goods moves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth decided to reverse course on the idea to privatize the process that moves service members\u2019 household goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, he directed officials to improve the current program, which will remain in place for at least three years, according to an advisory sent Wednesday to the military services and personal property shipping offices, as well as companies previously approved to move troops and families under the \u201ctender of service\u201d program, the DOD\u2019s legacy system for managing moves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the next three years, officials will modernize the program into a \u201cgovernment-controlled software solution\u201d and complete an ongoing market study by research economists of commercial moving and storage rates, the advisory says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work will include validating rates for fairness and reasonableness of the tender of service program and updating or replacing business rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One large hurdle with the department\u2019s attempt to privatize the management of military moves, which was terminated in June<\/a>, was the rates offered under the new contract. Some moving companies declined to work with the new program, citing lower rates than they were paid traditionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hegseth\u2019s decision is based on the recommendations of the Permanent Change of Station Joint Task Force, which will continue its work until Aug. 31, 2026, \u201cor until the establishment of a permanent follow-on organization,\u201d Wednesday\u2019s advisory reads. The advisory was sent by the task force and the Defense Personal Property Management Office at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hegseth formed the task force this summer<\/a> to address immediate and long-term issues with the movement of household goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Dec. 15, the PCS task force will provide a more detailed analysis of the options for a follow-on organization. Army Maj. Gen. Lance G. Curtis remains the task force commander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It remained unclear Wednesday what other changes might be coming to the program, known as the Defense Personal Property Program, or DP3, which deals with hundreds of moving companies. <\/p>\n\n\n\t