GAO: DOD faces $285 billion maintenance backlog, chronically neglected barracks

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 adequately funding installation maintenance, leading to an estimated $285 billion backlog in fiscal 2025. The DOD aimed to fund 90% of maintenance needs but services requested only about 80%, with the Marine Corps dropping to 40%. This shortfall has resulted in 'chronically neglected' barracks, with thousands of service members living in substandard conditions posing health and safety risks. The GAO found that the DOD has not fully assessed the risks to mission readiness and quality of life. Challenges include hiring and retaining maintenance workers, unreliable data systems, and a lack of oversight. The GAO made 13 recommendations, including strengthening oversight and improving data reliability, with the DOD concurring with 12.