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House Armed Services subcommittee presses Pentagon on costly construction, barracks, shipyards and energy resilience
Summary
Witnesses told the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee that military construction costs and environmental cleanup backlogs are eroding readiness, while members pressed for faster execution, better oversight of shipyard programs, more accountability for privatized housing, and clearer plans for on-site power including small modular reactors.
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee on March 23 pressed Defense Department and service officials on ballooning construction costs, deteriorating barracks, and the need for more resilient installation energy systems.
Chairman Bergman opened the hearing saying readiness “begins on our bases” and cited an internal study showing steep cost premiums for military construction, saying barracks cost “on average 68% more than comparable private-sector projects” and physical fitness facilities cost “126% more.” He warned that unchecked overruns on large programs could crowd out other readiness priorities and pointed to sharp cost growth in the shipyard program as examples that require tighter management.
Why it matters: Higher construction costs and delayed environmental cleanup reduce the Department of Defense’s buying power and can leave service members in substandard housing while diverting funds from mission-essential upgrades. The committee is seeking faster, more cost-effective delivery methods and better accountability for multibillion-dollar programs.
Ranking Member John Garami urged continued bipartisan oversight of the Navy’s shipyard infrastructure effort and cautioned that the department must balance emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence with realistic energy planning for installations. He also emphasized that energy resilience is “national security.”
Department officials described reforms and new authorities. An administration witness testified that the department has opened a top-to-bottom review of military construction and is pursuing ‘‘industry-proven best practices’’ to shorten timelines and drive down costs. The Army’s representative said the service has launched a ‘‘Janis’’ program to partner with private companies on advanced nuclear prototypes for on-site energy, with plans to execute prototype agreements and pursue groundbreakings by 2028 where feasible.
On energy, Assistant Secretary Marks told the panel the services are pursuing an ‘‘all technologies’’ approach, seeking co-investment with utilities and industry to harden critical infrastructure and reduce dependence on an increasingly fragile commercial grid. Marks said roughly 98% of installation power currently comes from off base and that the department is prioritizing storage and redundancy to keep installations operational during extreme weather, cyber incidents or grid outages.
Privatized housing and maintenance problems drew sustained attention. Representative Mendes showed photographs of mold and collapsed ceilings at enlisted housing near NAS Key West and pressed the Navy to move more quickly. Navy official Mr. Rogers said the service is actively working with the privatized housing partner (Balfour Beatty Communities) to recapitalize aging properties, including the Sigby area, and to determine the right business model to deliver safe, habitable housing.
Environmental cleanup and PFAS remediation were recurring topics. Officials acknowledged large projected costs for munitions response and PFAS cleanup and reported pilot work at Camp Graing to test a permeable barrier to slow plume expansion; the Army said results from the pilot are expected by the end of the calendar year and committed to further engagement with local stakeholders.
Members from Guam and elsewhere pressed on grid upgrades, underground transmission and housing plans tied to force posture, and officials agreed to further study requirements and funding options. Several members urged the department to increase transparency and public engagement when communities face lease renegotiations — an extended exchange involved training land in Hawaii and assurances to pursue in-person community outreach.
The committee repeatedly asked for status briefings and documentation: counts of pending siting-clearinghouse agreements for renewable projects (Marks said roughly a dozen are in the process), timelines for key MilCon projects, and data underpinning decisions on reprioritization of funds for remediation projects. Officials pledged to follow up and provide the requested information.
The hearing concluded with committee leaders reiterating that ‘‘bad news doesn’t get better with time’’ and asking the services for timely updates on implementation and remediation efforts. The committee adjourned without a formal vote.
Sources: Testimony and exchanges during the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing on March 23, 2026.
