I-TEAM UPDATE: U.S. senators launch inquiry into military moving contract
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - An I-TEAM investigation has the attention of two U.S. senators, and now, they’re taking action.
On Wednesday, Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock launched an inquiry with the U.S. Transportation Command into the new contract in charge of moving military families.
Ossoff spoke to your Meredith Anderson in a story you’re getting first on News 12.
Your I-TEAM has talked to multiple families who say they’ve had major problems with the single private company that’s supposed to be taking over all military moves.
Now, our investigation has made it all the way to Washington, D.C.
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They live in different parts of the country and represent different branches of the military, yet they tell the I-TEAM they all experienced the same problems with their recent moves.
Moves assigned under a brand new program, thanks to a brand new contract.
“They’re like, ‘Oh, we don’t have movers planned for you,’” said Laura Brigman as she arrived in Wisconsin.
“We can’t move everything around because you guys can’t show up on the day you promised,” said Katelin Golgart, who spoke to us from her family’s house in South Carolina mid-move.
MORE ON THIS INVESTIGATION:
- Families hit roadblocks with new military moving contract
- Military pulls back on relocation program
- Movers say they can’t afford to take part in new program
“It was almost four weeks past the required delivery date,” said Kaitlyn Jones, who moved from Florida to California.
“I don’t have time to play these games,” said Olivia, who moved from Florida to Maryland.
And Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff was watching – and listening.
“I don’t know that this would have come to public attention without investigative journalism from WRDW and other stations who’ve been looking into this, so thank you for your work,” said Ossoff.
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Ossoff and Warnock have been at work too, launching an official inquiry into “reports of poor services for military families during moves.”
“Up to 20% of these moves are plagued by either late arrivals or no-shows or mistakes on the address, and it’s just not working well, and military families don’t need this additional stress,” said Ossoff.
That’s why both senators are asking General Randall Reed, commander of U.S. Transcom, to “Fully exercise your (his) oversight authority” to make sure this new program under HomeSafe Alliance is “Delivering on its promises.”
“Why is the contractor missing appointments?” asked Ossoff. “How rigorously is this contract being managed and overseen by the Department of Defense? Are military families being empowered to communicate directly with those responsible for these moves?”
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Ossoff says he hopes to get all these questions answered soon.
“I’ll expect a timely response, and if we don’t get a timely response, we’ll turn up the heat,’ said Ossoff.
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We reached out to HomeSafe Alliance for a response, but in an email Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson directed us to U.S. Transcom. Even though HomeSafe did not respond to Senator Ossoff’s interview or the inquiry, the spokesperson did issue the following statement:
We reached out to Transcom as well and got back this response from a spokesperson:
“U.S. Transportation Command is aware of Senator Ossoff and Senator Warnock’s letter and greatly appreciates their concerns regarding the implementation of the Global Household Goods Contract. General Reed and U.S. TRANSCOM remain committed to delivering an improved moving experience to our service and their families and will respond to the questions posed in the letter.”
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