President Biden’s job as commander-in-chief has been an afterthought. He is severely neglecting the military.
And now a shocking new report has exposed how President Biden is giving Marines “unlivable” conditions.
Over the past few years, Joe Biden and his Democrat allies in his administration have been trying to drum up support for sending billions more in taxpayer dollars to regions like eastern Europe in Ukraine and now the Middle East with the hot conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Over $100 billion has been sent to Ukraine at the expense of Americans, despite the economic issues Americans are facing here in the homeland. No doubt, this has not helped Joe Biden’s approval ratings which continue to suffer.
Not only that, but while the U.S. is funneling money to the Ukrainian military left and right, the U.S. military itself is suffering. A new report has raised everyone’s eyebrows about how much the Biden administration is neglecting U.S. soldiers, so much so that their living conditions are being described as “uninhabitable.”
The recent service-wide inspection within the Marine Corps, concluding on March 15, shed light on the challenging living conditions experienced by many Marines. Despite this revelation, rectifying these long-standing issues poses a formidable challenge, as shared by Marines who spoke with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
In February, Marine Corps Acting Commandant Gen. Christopher Mahoney mandated thorough inspections of all housing facilities for single Marines, termed “wall-to-wall” inspections, to be conducted by March 15. Preliminary findings from this extensive investigation, covering 60,000 rooms across 25 installations globally, unveiled distressing conditions: Marines residing in unclean, congested quarters, often grappling with dysfunctional amenities and privacy deficits. This distressing reality echoes the concerns raised in a watchdog report from September, confirmed by Marine Corps officials speaking to the DCNF.
This is great but for how long has Marines/Servicemembers been forced into unlivable housing situations because of pay or poorly maintained base housing…..True answer FOREVER. #Marines #HousingVisit https://t.co/iknkqSNDEJ
— marie (@Mariesees) March 1, 2019
Maj. John Parry, spokesperson for Marine Corps Installations Command, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the inspections, aimed primarily at ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Immediate action was taken to address pressing health and safety issues identified during the inspection.
To tackle the identified shortcomings, the Marine Corps intends to analyze the inspection results meticulously. This analysis aims to allocate additional funding effectively toward the revitalization of barracks, prioritizing improvements that directly enhance the quality of life for Marines.
During the inspections, barracks managers utilized detailed checklists covering various aspects of habitability, safety, and cleanliness. These assessments provided insights into specific areas requiring attention, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces, alongside recommendations for follow-up actions.
In cases where severe issues like mold or safety hazards were uncovered, commanders were empowered to relocate affected Marines, as outlined in a memorandum provided by Parry.
The inspection findings echoed earlier reports, reflecting systemic challenges persisting over decades. One Marine stationed in Washington, D.C., speaking anonymously, underscored the longstanding nature of the problem, applauding recent attention from command leadership but questioning why action took so long.
According to Maj. Gen. Maxwell, commander of Marine Corps Installations Command, approximately 88,000 Marines currently reside in dormitories, highlighting the scale of the challenge. Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz acknowledged the gravity of the situation before the House Committee on Appropriations, affirming the commitment to invest in barracks’ future.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, focusing on housing for junior enlisted personnel, highlighted pervasive issues across multiple installations. Even barracks with high ratings by Department of Defense standards were deemed in need of significant improvement, with some labeled as “uninhabitable” by installation officials.
Former barracks residents’ testimonies and the GAO’s site visits corroborated concerns regarding inadequate facilities, including lack of hot water, malfunctioning amenities, and unsanitary conditions. Instances of neglect in addressing maintenance requests were also documented, undermining residents’ quality of life.
Social media posts further illustrated the dire conditions in certain barracks, prompting action from authorities to address the issues. However, the underlying causes of such deterioration remain unclear.
Training deficiencies among barracks managers, identified by the GAO, highlight the need for structural reforms within the Marine Corps’ housing management framework. The plan to replace military personnel with civilian professionals and other strategic initiatives signify a comprehensive approach toward addressing these systemic challenges.
Despite these efforts, substantial financial investments are imperative to achieve meaningful progress. The Marine Corps estimates a yearly funding requirement of $1.5 billion to fully restore housing, with a significant backlog of maintenance requests amounting to billions of dollars.
Gen. Eric Smith’s acknowledgment of the extensive timeframe required to address these issues underscores the complexity of the task ahead. The Marine Corps’ request for additional funding from Congress signals a step towards securing necessary resources for barracks modernization and repair.
Ultimately, the translation of inspection findings into actionable measures hinges on securing funding in the Marine Corps’ fiscal year 2026 budget, underscoring the critical role of financial support in addressing longstanding housing challenges.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
