Hegseth directs new task force to come up with ‘barracks investment plan’
Though some barracks funding has been diverted to border operations this year, a new task force will have 30 days to come up with new proposals to address substandard facilities.
Drew F. Lawrence
Published Oct 7, 2025 5:07 PM EDT
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a new task force to develop a 'barracks investment plan' within 30 days to address substandard housing in military barracks. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Manuel Rivera
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the establishment of a Pentagon-run barracks initiative on Tuesday, giving a new Barracks Task Force 30 days to come up with an “investment plan” to improve troop housing.
Substandard barracks have long been a top concern for junior troops who live in them. Complaints about mold, rodents, squatters, exposed wiring, faulty appliances, clunky ventilation and dilapidated structures have been common among service members in barracks and other military housing for years.
Military leaders have conceded that during twenty years of the Global War on Terror, military housing took a back seat to combat priorities, leaving barracks to rot and troops – typically young and under the rank of sergeant – to suffer in substandard conditions.
“Every warfighter of our joint force deserves housing that is clean, comfortable and safe,” Hegseth said in a video posted on X. “Our military barracks are where warriors go to rest and recover, a place they go to mentally and physically prepare for the next fight.”
https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/hegseth-barracks-task-force/