# Pentagon Invites States to Pitch Base

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has invited governors and state adjutants general to propose locations for a new U.S. military installation that could accommodate 15,000–25,000 troops and support homeland defense, command and control, and cyber operations. The Pentagon’s plan for the selection process is due by the end of October 2026, but no state has been selected and no solicitation, funding amount, or contract timeline has been announced. The broader initiative package includes a planned Autonomous Warfare Command targeted to stand up by October 1, 2027, pointing to possible future demand for military construction, resilient installation infrastructure, and autonomous systems.

- **Key deadline:** The Pentagon’s selection-process plan is due by the end of October 2026. States and firms positioning to support proposals can use this near-term planning phase to identify relevant land, infrastructure, and technical capabilities.
- The proposed base is an early-stage site-selection opportunity, not an active construction procurement. Contractors should distinguish state-hosting proposals from any later federal solicitations; the site, requirements, and funding remain unspecified.
- The planned Autonomous Warfare Command and prototype acquisition model indicate potential future opportunities in autonomous and robotic capabilities. The command has an October 1, 2027 target, while Project Meridian recommendations are due January 28, 2027, ahead of a February 4, 2027 Defense R&D Summit.
- No contract values, solicitation numbers, or procurement contacts are identified in these signals, so firms cannot yet assess a specific bid. Relevant capability areas include installation construction and infrastructure, resilient power, command-and-control, cyber operations, and autonomous systems.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** October 02, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of Defense (DoD)
- Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
- Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
- Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS)

### Vendors
- Anduril Industries ()

### Key Quotes
> If your state wants the honor of hosting 15,000 to 25,000 of America’s great troops, show us why and how you’re going to do it, cutting through the red tape, offering up the land, and rolling out the red carpet for our military families.
> — Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense

### Sources
- [The 6 new initiatives in Hegseth's Pentagon](https://thehill.com/newsletters/defense-national-security/6121880-the-6-new-initiatives-in-hegseths-pentagon) - The Hill
- [Pete Hegseth calls on governors to pitch for next major US military base](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6121389-pete-hegseth-invites-governors-base-bids) - The Hill
- [Hegseth plans ‘Autonomous Warfare Command’ - Defense One](https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2026/09/hegseth-plans-autonomous-warfare-command/416358) - defenseone.com