BURSTDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the formation of a new “barracks task force” to improve living conditions for U.S. service members during his Tuesday speech to new military recruits at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.
Hegseth said the Department of Defense (DOD) task force will be in charge of developing a “department-wide” barracks investment plan within the next 30 days and that President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law in early July, “gave over a billion dollars as the down payment in this effort.”
“We are going to fix the barracks issue across all of our services, because two years ago, the Government Accountability Office released a report said, quote, ‘poor living conditions undermine quality of life and readiness,'" Hegseth said, referring to the 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.
GAO said in the report that “hundreds of thousands of service members live in military barracks. Concerns about poor living conditions and how DOD is managing the barracks go back decades.”
“We observed barracks in poor condition, including some with safety risks like sewage overflow and inoperable fire systems,” the nonpartisan watchdog wrote. “And some barracks don't meet DOD requirements for privacy or amenities.”
The Pentagon chief said that “despite that report, the Biden administration did nothing.”
“It is simply unacceptable that in some cases, our warriors continue to live in substandard housing,” he said. “Every war fighter of our joint force deserves housing that is clean, comfortable and safe.”
Earlier this year, the DOD diverted about $1 billion intended for Army barracks renovations to help fund the surge of troops at the southern border, as part of the Trump administration’s effort to crack down on illegal immigration. The move prompted pushback from some Democrats in Congress.
“We can build a lot of beautiful things. Our commander in chief is a builder. He understands building and building efficiently and well. Adequate housing for our force is critical to reviving a warrior ethos. In rebuilding our military,” Hegseth said on Tuesday. “Barracks are where warriors go to rest and recover, a place to go to mentally and physically prepare for winning the next fight.”
“So the barracks task force that we're announcing will ensure that local and unit commanders are better in power to take care of warriors,” the DOD head added.
About 60 recruits from across the branches were sworn in Tuesday, with Hegseth leading their oath of enlistment.
Hegseth also said his office will “personally review and approve the resulting” plans for the barracks.
“In crucial ways, big and small, the Department of War is going to have your back like never before, not just in the fight, but alongside your family, alongside your welfare,” the Defense secretary said, using an alternate name for his department.