United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that the Pentagon was launching a six-month review of its military numbers in Europe, with possible future implications to the moving industry that serves this market segment.
The announcement regarding the review follows a recent report that the Army will be significantly reducing scheduled Permanent Change of Station moves in the United States by cutting more than 12,000 relocations in 2026 and over 13,600 in 2027 in an initiative to boost readiness and family stability. A rotational deployment to Poland of 4,000 troops from Fort Hood, Texas, was also recently canceled.
“Make no mistake about it—this will be a real review,” Hegseth said at the opening of a meeting of NATO defense chiefs. “It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe.”
According to figures from the Defense Manpower Data Center, there are approximately 80,000 to 100,000 U.S. personnel (including active-duty service members, rotational forces, and supporting Defense Department civilians) stationed across Europe. This includes 34,000 to 36,000 personnel in Germany that serves as the main hub for EUCOM and AFRICOM headquarters, 10,000 personnel in the United Kingdom, and a further 14,000 across Eastern European NATO-alignment locations. The U.S. presence across the continent spans roughly 31 permanent bases and 19 additional access sites.
IAM Member Impact: For moving companies serving military families in the United States and overseas, there are signs of an erosion in the future number of moves.
Source: Wall Street Journal PBS