Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday announced a new Pentagon task force that will work to improve troop housing across all military branches.
Speaking at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia before newly enlisted service members, Hegseth said the task force will be responsible for developing a department-wide barracks improvement plan within 30 days.
Our warfighters deserve the best.
That is why we are announcing the new Barracks Task Force. pic.twitter.com/864b8q7nq9
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 7, 2025
Hegseth said the task force will begin with $1 billion in funding from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in July. He called the effort “a down payment” on fixing a long-standing issue.
According to Hegseth, the task force will ensure that local and unit commanders are “better empowered to take care of warriors.”
Hegseth said that providing adequate housing for service members is essential to restoring the warrior ethos and strengthening the military.
“It is simply unacceptable that in some cases, our warriors continue to live in substandard housing,” Hegseth said. “Every warfighter of our joint force deserves housing that is clean, comfortable and safe.”
The announcement follows a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that found widespread neglect in military barracks, including mold, sewage leaks, pests, and broken fire systems.
