GAO: Pentagon faces $285 billion maintenance backlog, leaving military barracks chronically neglected

Published Aug 21, 07:05 PM UTC

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on August 21, 2026, reveals that the Department of Defense (DOD) is not requesting sufficient funding for installation maintenance, resulting in an estimated $285 billion backlog in fiscal year 2025. The DOD's goal is to fund 90% of maintenance needs as recommended by its Facilities Sustainment Model, but the Army, Navy, and Air Force have consistently requested only about 80%, while the Marine Corps' request dropped from 80% to 40% over five years. This shortfall has led to 'chronically neglected' barracks, with thousands of service members living in substandard conditions posing health and safety risks. The GAO found that hiring and retaining maintenance workers is challenging due to private sector competition and federal hiring practices, and that maintenance data systems are unreliable. The report makes 13 recommendations, including strengthening oversight and determining risks of underfunding. The DOD concurred with 12 of the recommendations.