As the CEO of one of the largest moving companies in the country responsible for moving soldiers and their families, it is my honor to support these brave Americans during what can be a stressful and troubling time in their lives.
Recent changes at the Department of Defense could make this process even more stressful for the more than 300,000 troops who must change positions each year, including many thousands of active duty and reservist troops and their families in California.
To streamline the military relocation process, the U.S. Department of Defense has agreed to consolidate all military relocations into a single program – the Global Household Goods Contract – rather than maintaining its competitive bid-based program. Industry leaders have serious concerns about the feasibility and quality of execution and are choosing not to participate in the GHC program, leaving our soldiers at the mercy of capacity constraints, inexperienced movers, or worse – last-minute moves.
Without significant changes, I fear our soldiers will be at greater risk of having their moves botched or having their items delayed, damaged or lost.
The government also has concerns. The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act 2025, which provides for an independent analysis of the feasibility of the program based on various criteria.
We urge congressional leaders to conduct due diligence on this risky experiment – and to insist on a strategic pause in the implementation of the GHC so that the Government Accountability Office can conduct a comprehensive assessment of its feasibility.
This is not the time to ignore the common concerns of an entire industry, a trusted partner, and a California company that potentially impacts thousands of local military families. Our men and women in uniform deserve a positive moving experience from professionals like Atlas who care.
Jack Griffin is chairman and CEO of Atlas World Group, a national moving and storage company.
