Overview
- The service issued Army Directive 2026-17 on June 30, which limits official Army social media to fewer than 30 authorized organizational accounts.
- The directive names which headquarters, component commands, divisions and senior installation commanders may keep accounts and allows one National Guard account per state plus accounts for D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Commanders were given 30 days to archive records and deactivate unauthorized unit, base, recruiting station and MWR accounts, with an exceptions process for mission-critical needs.
- Subordinate units may continue to document activity but photographs, videos and posts must be published through higher-level accounts, official .mil sites or authorized internal channels.
- Officials say centralization will reduce operational and cyber risk and make official information easier to find, but local communities and recruiters may see slower or less direct local updates as the change takes effect; a service news release about the policy was briefly posted and later removed from the Army website.