• WASHINGTON
Congressman Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) released the following statement on July 10 after the Department of War (DoW) notified lawmakers that they decided not to pursue privatization of the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA).
The proposal would have transferred operations of commissaries, exchanges, and other retail systems to the private sector.
HER STATEMENT
Kiggans — a member of both the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs — said, “Our nation’s commissary program has long served as a critical quality-of-life benefit for our service members, military families, retirees, and veterans.
“These stores offer affordable groceries at great prices while also offering the variety of choices our service members and their families deserve. As a commissary shopper myself, I recognize there is always an opportunity to improve the commissary system.”
She stated that “the answer” should not be to privatize, “but to work on the system that already exists which our military families know and love.
“I’m grateful that the DoW has chosen to invest in modernization efforts to draw more customers to this valuable benefit.
“I look forward to continuing the work to ensure our commissaries and exchanges remain active and deliver a positive shopping experience for the men and women who serve our country.”
THE DECISION
The Department’s decision came after Kiggans’ March 30 letter to Undersecretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata expressing concerns about current commissary operations and future privatization proposals that could undermine the military resale system and diminish a benefit intended to support the military community.
Among Kiggans’ concerns included DeCA’s decision to charge customers for single-use paper and plastic bags at commissaries across the country.
Following her letter and a conversation with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at an HASC hearing, DeCA chose to reverse course on the bag issue.
Source: Rep. Jen Kiggans’ Website (https://kiggans.house.gov/2026/07/10/kiggans-applauds-decision-to-preserve-and-improve-military-commissary-system/#)
Edited by Larry Lapka
