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BOP tells appropriators $3 billion repair backlog has left 4,000 beds offline
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Summary
Associate Deputy Director Kathleen Toomey told the subcommittee the Bureau of Prisons has a roughly $3 billion modernization and repair backlog; about 4,000 beds cannot be used because of unsafe conditions and the bureau has developed a five‑year capital plan to address prioritized safety and security projects.
Associate Deputy Director Kathleen Toomey told the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Activities Subcommittee that the Bureau of Prisons has an estimated $3,000,000,000 modernization and repair backlog and more than 4,000 beds that are unusable due to dangerous conditions.
Why it matters: Toomey said unusable beds reduce the bureau's ability to house people safely and to move individuals to facilities closer to release locations; members said the backlog drives pressure for capital appropriations and could raise operating costs if aging facilities remain in use.
What the bureau described: Toomey said the backlog includes safety systems (fire alarms, sprinklers, fire pumps), roofs ("there are 65 roofing projects just on that plan"), perimeter and physical security upgrades, and other critical systems. The bureau has created a five‑year capital plan that lists specific repairs by fiscal year and by facility and aims to bring beds back online while balancing nationwide needs and emergent events such as major weather damage.
Toomey told the committee BOP estimates that "more than 4,000 beds are unusable due to dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs, mold, asbestos, or lead. 4,000 beds is the equivalent of 2 to 3 entire prisons." She asked for continued congressional support and noted recent disaster funding: Congress provided $65,000,000 to address facilities damaged by major weather events.
Member questions: Members asked how BOP prioritized projects and sought comparisons on the cost of repair versus new construction. Toomey said the plan prioritizes projects that increase safety and restore bed space at existing facilities and that the facilities team tries to balance geographic distribution while retaining flexibility for emergent repairs. She said BOP can provide more detailed cost comparisons on request.
Ending: Lawmakers asked for more granular cost estimates and for the bureau to return additional detail on planned projects and timing so appropriators can evaluate capital requests during the budget process.
