PCS Reform Stalled, HomeSafe Alliance Performance Scrutinized
More than a quarter million permanent station moves occur every year, with military members and families being packed up, relocated, and reassigned to new bases in the United States and overseas.
To make those moves possible, the Defense Department has a system of inbound and outbound travel management offices at its bases around the globe. Until 2021, that meant using many contractors to pack and ship household goods. But that legacy system had many flaws and needed to be modernized for the 21st century.
In 2021, the Department of Defense began an effort to reform military household goods moves to address common complaints about damaged household goods, delayed shipments, and a lack of transparency.
Part of that effort was to consolidate the entire DoD household goods program and use a single contractor to administer it instead of relying on multiple regional contractors.
At press time, the replacement for the old legacy system hasn’t performed to the expected standards. In 2025, Military Times reported that the Army and Air Force “issued notices to their personal property shipping offices that any service members’ shipments that have less than a 21-day lead time must be pulled back into the legacy system, which has been in place for more than a decade.”
One source noted that HomeSafe Alliance received a “formal warning from TRANSCOM after 29.8% of military moves faced late pickups in January 2025.”
What was the primary goal of the Department of Defense in establishing the Global Household Goods Contract?
The Department of Defense’s primary goal for the Global Household Goods Contract was to reform its system for moving military household goods. It aimed to replace the older, fragmented Defense Personal Property System with a single move manager to improve the quality of moves, enhance communication, and increase accountability.
Which company was awarded the Global Household Goods Contract, and when did this occur?
U.S. Transportation Command awarded the Global Household Goods Contract to HomeSafe Alliance, a joint venture of Tier One Relocation & KBR, in November 2021.
When did HomeSafe Alliance begin managing military moves?
HomeSafe Alliance started managing a small percentage of domestic U.S. military household goods moves in April 2024, as part of a phased rollout.
Once HomeSafe Alliance began operations, what were the significant problems reported?
Significant problems included numerous instances of missed shipment pickup and delivery dates, extensive delays in receiving belongings, and difficulties experienced by users with the HomeSafe Connect platform.
How did these operational problems impact military service members and their families?
Military service members faced unexpected out-of-pocket expenses due to shipment delays. Additionally, the initial reimbursement rates for Personally Procured Moves under the Global Household Goods Contract were lower than those under the legacy system, which added to financial burdens and stress for families.
What were some responses from the Department of Defense and U.S. Transportation Command to HomeSafe Alliance’s performance issues by early to mid-2025?
The Department of Defense publicly acknowledged “shortcomings” with the Global Household Goods Contract rollout. The plan for HomeSafe Alliance to take over all domestic moves going into the peak 2025 moving season was halted.
Many PCS moves were rerouted back to the legacy Defense Personal Property System. In January 2025, the U.S. Transportation Command also issued a “show-cause” notice to HomeSafe Alliance due to its performance.
What decisive actions did the DoD take in May 2025 to address the ongoing issues?
In May 2025, citing “recent deficiencies,” the Secretary of Defense ordered several “immediate modifications.” These included temporarily increasing reimbursement for Personally Procured Moves to 130% of the Global Household Goods Contract government cost (from May 15 to September 30, 2025), initiating a review of mover rates under both the new and legacy systems, and establishing a Permanent Change of Station Task Force to comprehensively review the Global Household Goods Contract program, including considering its potential termination.
What was the operational situation for military household goods moves for May 2025 and beyond?
In Late May 2025, as the peak moving season began, the legacy Defense Personal Property System was handling most military household goods moves, not HomeSafe Alliance. HomeSafe Alliance was managing only a reduced, conditional volume of moves. The U.S. Transportation Command was also expected to publish new “reasonable rates” for the legacy moving system.
What specific criticisms were directed at HomeSafe Alliance in light of the developments in Late May 2025?
Key criticisms included HomeSafe Alliance’s failure to demonstrate its capability as the single move manager contracted to handle the full volume of moves, forcing continued reliance on the old system. Its initial rate structure was blamed for contributing to subcontractor shortages.
Some feel the continued need for the U.S. Transportation Command to adjust legacy system rates and manage the majority of moves indicates that the Global Household Goods Contract, under HomeSafe’s performance, had not become the reliable solution promised, at least not at press time. This is a developing story.
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
