Pete Hegseth announced a sweeping and permanent overhaul of the U.S. military’s long-troubled Permanent Change of Station process, declaring an end to years of failed leadership, contractor breakdowns, and repeated hardships imposed on military families. The reform establishes a new Department of War Special Activity dedicated exclusively to managing household goods moves for more than 300,000 service member relocations each year.

The new centralized Personal Property Activity will be headquartered at Scott Air Force Base and led by Maj. Gen. Lance G. Curtis, reporting directly to the Pentagon. According to Hegseth, the structure removes layers of bureaucracy that allowed repeated failures to persist and replaces them with direct accountability, centralized oversight, and mission-driven leadership. Initial operations begin immediately, with full operational capability targeted by May 2026 following phased implementation.

Military families have long endured damaged heirlooms, delayed deliveries, lost property, and inadequate reimbursement rates during PCS moves, eroding morale and stability during already stressful transitions. Years of contractor underperformance and weak enforcement left service members feeling ignored and powerless. Hegseth stated that the Department listened directly to warfighters, removed ineffective leadership, increased mover compensation, and used lessons learned from a successful task force to design a permanent solution rather than another temporary fix.

The reform is backed by funding and authorities provided under the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, allowing the Pentagon to integrate additional family support measures alongside the logistics overhaul. These include coordination assistance for school enrollment and relocation services intended to reduce disruption and improve readiness across the force.

Reaction from service members has been largely positive, with many welcoming long-overdue relief from a system widely viewed as broken. Some, however, caution that sustained improvement will depend on consistent execution and long-term accountability. Hegseth acknowledged those concerns directly, emphasizing that the new structure exists precisely to ensure failures are addressed immediately and do not repeat.

The message from the Pentagon was direct and unequivocal: PCS was broken, failed leadership was removed, and a permanent fix is now in place to restore trust, protect military families, and strengthen readiness across the armed forces.