Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, that the Pentagon will conduct a nationwide competition to select the site for a new U.S. military base. During his \"State of the Force\" address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Hegseth invited every state governor and adjutant general to submit a proposal for the facility. He stated the selection process would be transparent and merit-based, involving public presentations at the Pentagon.
The planned installation would be the first new major domestic military base built in more than 40 years. Hegseth noted that Naval Station Everett in Washington, which opened in the 1990s, was the most recent addition. The U.S. military currently operates approximately 335 domestic bases and between 750 and 800 installations worldwide across approximately 80 countries.
The new base is expected to house between 15,000 and 25,000 troops. Hegseth described the project as a \"self-sustaining power projection platform\" spanning hundreds of thousands of acres. Plans for the facility include organic power generation, modern air defenses, and classical architecture. The Secretary stated that governors would present their \"sales pitches\" to himself, Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine, with possible participation from President Trump.
The announcement was one of six initiatives Hegseth outlined, including the creation of an Autonomous Warfare Command and a new partnership program with colleges called America’s Corps of Cadets. He also confirmed a 20% reduction in general and flag officer positions. Additionally, Hegseth highlighted the Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability (FORTRESS) America initiative, which aims to make military installations self-sufficient with independent power and strategic reserves.
The project introduces a new competitive model for military infrastructure, shifting away from traditional congressional appropriations processes toward a public \"sales pitch\" format livestreamed from the Pentagon. The emphasis on \"organic power generation\" and self-sufficiency via the FORTRESS America program indicates a shift toward off-grid military operations, which could change how the Department of Defense interacts with local utility grids and energy markets. Furthermore, the requirement for \"timeless classical architecture\" establishes a specific aesthetic standard for future federal military construction projects.
The timeline for selecting a winning state and beginning construction was not reported. Hegseth stated that the governors' presentations would be livestreamed, but the specific dates for these hearings have not yet been released. Following the selection, the project would involve large-scale development of barracks, training facilities, and community infrastructure. The Defense Secretary did not specify the total projected cost of the installation or the specific funding source, though he contrasted the project with existing spending on weapon systems.