Pentagon Opens 40-Year Contest for Base Housing 25,000 Troops
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 30
Pentagon Opens 40-Year Contest for Base Housing 25,000 Troops
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 30
Summary
The Pentagon will pick a state to host the first new U.S. military base built in 40 years, a project dubbed the “Next Great American Base” that could house up to 25,000 service members.
Hundreds of thousands of acres are envisioned for a self-sustaining installation with independent power, modern air defenses, training grounds, health care and child care, replacing aging barracks and infrastructure.
Governors will pitch directly to Pentagon leaders in a recorded, public competition, with the winning state judged on how much red tape it can cut and what land, housing, schools and community support it offers.
Pete Hegseth cast the base as part of six military modernization initiatives, arguing the Pentagon should stop pairing expensive weapons programs with deteriorating living conditions for troops and their families.
The project also aligns with President Donald Trump’s “Beautiful Civic Architecture” order, extending the push for classical-style federal design to a flagship new military installation.
Can the Pentagon’s first new base in 40 years become a model for troop housing, energy independence, and resilience—or an expensive showcase?
What will decide the winner of the Next Great American Base competition: strategic value, local support, faster permits, or capacity for military families?
If one self-sustaining base houses 25,000 troops, does that strengthen readiness—or create new risks by concentrating people and infrastructure?