HomeSafe Is Gone: What Changed About Military Moves in 2026

If you PCS'd in 2024 or 2025, you probably have a HomeSafe horror story. Missed pickups. Stuff sitting in a warehouse for months. Claims that went nowhere. The whole thing was a mess.

It's over now. The Pentagon terminated HomeSafe Alliance's contract in June 2025 and stood up a new permanent agency to run military moves. Here's what you need to know for this summer's PCS season.

What Happened to HomeSafe

Quick timeline:

• November 2021: DoD awarded the Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) to HomeSafe Alliance — a joint venture between Tier One Relocation and KBR. The contract was worth up to $17.9 billion over 9 years.
• April 2024: HomeSafe started handling local moves. Problems started immediately.
• Summer 2024: Thousands of families reported missed pickups, damaged goods, and weeks-long delays. DoD had to pull back roughly 7,400 shipments for capacity failures.
• June 18, 2025: Pentagon terminated the contract for cause. HomeSafe had burned through over $100 million and couldn't deliver.
• Mid-2025: A PCS Joint Task Force stood up under Army Maj. Gen. Lance G. Curtis to stabilize the system.
• January 2026: Secretary of Defense directed the task force to become a permanent agency.
• May 1, 2026: The Personal Property Activity (PPA) officially launched.

Bottom line: HomeSafe is gone. The old system is back, but with new oversight.

What Is the PPA?

The Personal Property Activity is the new permanent DoD agency that runs all military household goods moves. Think of it as the central command for every TMO office across all branches.

What to know:

• Website: ppa.mil
• Call center: 1-833-MIL-MOVE
• Hours: 24/7 during peak season (May 15 - September 15). 8 AM - 5 PM Central outside peak.
• Who it covers: All branches — Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard

The 74 installation-level Personal Property Processing Offices (your local TMO) still exist. They're still in the same buildings. But they now report to PPA instead of their individual service branch headquarters.

What Changed for Your Move

Things That Are Different

1. Claims window extended to 12 months. You now have a full year to file a Full Replacement Value claim for damaged or lost household goods. It used to be 9 months. This is a big deal — it gives you more time to unpack, discover damage, and file properly.

2. Dependent per diem for delays. If the moving company causes a delay (missed pickup, late delivery), per diem for inconvenience claims now extends to all dependents at up to 75% of the service member's M&IE rate. And the carrier pays it, not you.

3. Cybersecurity requirements for movers. New rules for transportation service providers. This mostly happens behind the scenes, but it means your personal data is better protected during the move.

4. Booking opened earlier. PCS season booking opened March 20 this year — a full month earlier than prior years. If you haven't booked yet and you're moving this summer, call TMO today.

Things That Stayed the Same

• You still book through DPS (Defense Personal Property System). Same website, same login.
• Your local TMO/transportation office is still your first point of contact.
• HHG weight allowances haven't changed. Same limits by rank.
• PPM/DITY moves are still an option, still reimbursed at 100% of the government's constructed cost.
• TLE is still 21 days CONUS (this was a permanent increase in November 2024, not a COVID extension).
• The 75-day claim window for noting damage on delivery paperwork hasn't changed — but the full claim filing window behind it extended to 12 months.

What You Should Do Differently This Summer

1. Book early. Seriously. PCS season slots are tighter than ever. If you have orders, call TMO this week.

2. Document everything. Before packers arrive, walk through every room and photograph your valuables. This is your evidence if something gets damaged or goes missing.

3. Be there on pack-out day. Watch the packers. Check every box label against the inventory sheet. Note any pre-existing damage on the form BEFORE the truck leaves.

4. Know the PPA call center. If something goes wrong — missed pickup, delayed delivery, missing shipment — call 1-833-MIL-MOVE. It's staffed 24/7 through September 15.

5. File claims promptly. You have 12 months now, but don't wait. File through DPS or your local claims office as soon as you discover damage. Take photos, keep the inventory sheet, and document everything.

6. Don't forget your PPM option. If you're worried about movers handling your stuff, a partial PPM lets the government ship most of it while you move the valuable or fragile items yourself — and get paid for it. At 100% of the government's constructed cost, it's still good money.

The Bigger Picture

The discretionary move reduction directive is coming — 10% fewer PCS moves starting in FY2027 (October 2026), ramping to 50% by FY2030. That doesn't affect this summer's moves, but it means the overall PCS system will be handling fewer shipments in future years, which should improve quality.

For now, the system is running on the legacy DPS software that's over 25 years old. A replacement (called MilMove, salvaged from the HomeSafe contract) is in development but won't be ready for roughly 3 years.

The best thing you can do: know your entitlements, document your stuff, and don't leave money on the table.

Need a personalized breakdown of every dollar you're owed for your specific move? PCS Copilot generates a full playbook with your exact entitlements, timeline, and checklist in about 2 minutes. $15.99, no subscription.

Sources:

• MAP 66-24(R) — TLE Period Increase (travel.dod.mil)
• DTMO JTR Changes Log (travel.dod.mil/Policy-Regulations/Joint-Travel-Regulations/Changes/)
• Personal Property Activity (ppa.mil)
• "Pentagon Creates Permanent PCS Agency" — Breaking Defense, January 23, 2026
• "Mechanism for PCS Moves Has Changed" — Aerotech News, May 28, 2026

This article is based on the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) and official DoD sources. Always verify with your finance office and TMO for your specific situation. PCS Copilot is not affiliated with the DoD.