U.S. to build new domestic military base, no cost estimate provided
A new military base is coming to the United States, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.
Hegseth announced several programs the Pentagon will take on in the coming years in an effort to advance technology and increased deterrance. A location for the new base is yet to be determined, but he said the department will take suggestions.
“This installation will serve as a foundation hub for integrated defense operations, distributed command-and-control, and resilient cyber and technological capabilities,” Hegseth wrote in a memorandum.
Hegseth did not give an estimate for how much construction on the new base would cost taxpayers. The base is set to house 25,000 servicemembers and span hundreds of thousands of acres.
The Department of War will institute a nationwide site nomination process to determine where the newest base will be located. The memo directed the Assistant Secretary of War for Energy, Installations and Environment to submit an initial execution plan and site selection evaluation within two weeks.
“The Department’s objective is clear: identify the right strategic location, safeguard our nation’s competitive advantage against evolving threats, and commence construction without delay,” Hegseth wrote.
For fiscal year 2026, the U.S. military requested nearly $3.8 billion for ongoing construction and maintenance projects. However, a new base would likely exceed this figure.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the addition of 40 ground-based missile interceptors in Fort Greely, Alaska, would cost $4 billion in 2021. Camp Humphreys, the most recently built U.S. base in South Korea, cost $10.7 billion to build.
“The state that cuts the most red tape and offers the best package of land and support will win the historic honor of hosting the most lethal, modern, and beautiful military installation on the planet,” the department wrote.
Hegseth also announced the Autonomous Warfare Command, a four-star combatant command to build, procure and scale drones and other advanced military technology.
“With the autonomous war command, we institutionalize and we supercharge the era of [Super Intelligence] robotics and autonomous systems, all in order to win,” Hegseth said.
The new command comes as the Pentagon seeks to rapidly increase spending on drone technology and other autonomous warfare. The Pentagon proposed $74 billion for drone and counter-drone technology in its most recent budget request, the largest ever.
In June, Hegseth consolidated the military’s drone technology oversight into the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems. The combatant command will be overseen by the newly established office.
Hegseth also announced America’s Corps of Cadets, a program in partnership with several universities across the country designed to expand military candidate quality.
The department is working alongside Louisiana State University, Liberty University, Tuskegee University, Mississippi State University and Hillsdale College to recruit more cadets. The program will provide the institutions with “Honor School” status and designate each as a “Distinguished Military College.”
The status is meant to recognize schools with high standards of cadet training, instructions and military organization. A graduate from one of the five schools would get priority in officer commissioning, according to the department.
“From the Ivy Leagues to most liberal arts colleges, our colleges have become anti-American, DEI-worshipping, woke factories,” Hegseth said. “Qualities like grit and courage were replaced with political correctness and social justice. God and country traded for Che Guevara and critical theory.”
Hegseth praised Texas A&M and the Citadel for student turnout. However, he said, turnout for quality military candidates would increase drastically with inclusion from the new schools.
He also announced FORTRESS America, an initiative to ensure every U.S. military base generates its own power supply for security purposes.
“It hardens every installation on American soil against cyber intrusion, sabotage, and drones,” the department wrote. “And it secures the high ground and the airwaves – satellites, spectrum, and the ability to see, navigate, and communicate – so the force is never blinded or silenced.”
Finallly, Hegseth announced the Office of Religious Affairs, an agency to support the spiritual lives of military members. He estimated nearly 95% of members in the department have some kind of religious affiliation.
“This is not going to be a paper-purshing shop,” Hegseth said. “It’s going to have real teeth. It’ll protect budgets, demand infrastructure, and strengthen religious support. The experts, our chaplains, will finally have an advocate at the highest levels.”
Hegseth touted the office as a direct line of communcation between religious leaders in the department and the highest levels of power. The department said the office is available for members of all faith backgrounds.
“You’re set apart. You are warriors. With that title comes great expectations,” Hegeseth said. “Go forth this day and do good things, do hard things. President Trump has your back, and so do I. We are the War Department, and we will never back down.”
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