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“Quality of Life in the Military”

House Appropriations Committee, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee

April 8, 2025 (recording here)

HEARING INFORMATION

Witnesses & Written Testimony (linked):

• Sergeant Major Michael R. Weimer: Sergeant Major of the Army, Department of Army

• Master Chief Petty Officer James M. Honea: Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Department of the Navy

• Sergeant Major Carlos A. Ruiz: Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Marine Corps

• Chief Master Sergeant David A. Flosi: Air Force

• Chief Master Sergeant John F. Bentivenga: Space Force

Keywords mentioned:

• Family housing, barracks conditions, sexual assault prevention, childcare shortages, mental health, TRICARE issues, military readiness, budget constraints, service member retention, training and education, infrastructure investments, continuing resolution (CR) impact

IN THEIR WORDS

OPENING STATEMENTS FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE

• Chairman John Carter emphasized the hearing’s focus on improving the quality of life for enlisted Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Guardians, and their families. He highlighted the importance of understanding how living conditions and support systems directly impact readiness. He noted that the witnesses represented the highest enlisted leadership across service branches and praised their insights.

• Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz criticized the administration for actions she said undermined service members' quality of life, including veteran firings, hiring freezes, and policy rollouts that complicated spousal employment and childcare. She also condemned actions such as the transgender military service ban and historical content removals, calling them harmful to morale and recruitment. The Ranking Member called for robust funding for barracks, family housing, childcare, and mental health services, and she pledged to ensure accountability in Department of Defense (DOD) spending.

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

• Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Michael Weimer expressed pride in the Army’s readiness and described the global presence of over 109,000 deployed soldiers. He discussed the importance of stable training management, quality housing, childcare, and spouse employment in supporting readiness and retention. He mentioned the Army's efforts to improve the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and transform installations to keep pace with evolving needs. SMA Weimer warned that continuing resolutions (CRs) and flat budgets undermine the Army’s ability to provide predictability and quality of life for soldiers and their families.

• Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) James Honea underscored that Sailors perform best when their families are well supported. He identified four key areas for improving quality of life: medical access, childcare, housing, and professional development. He illustrated challenges with civilian healthcare partnerships and urged increased support for military health funding and spousal employment. MCPON Honea also praised recent progress in reducing childcare waitlists and spoke on the value of lifelong education and leadership development for Sailors.

• Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SMMC) Carlos Ruiz praised Marines’ unwavering commitment and readiness, stating that they do not ask for easier tasks, only the resources to do them well. He noted high retention and successful recruiting, attributing this to Marines’ pride in their service. He outlined progress made through the Barracks 2030 initiative and spoke in support of investments in infrastructure and resilience programs like Marine Corps Total Fitness. SMMC Ruiz also stressed the need to modernize gear to match evolving threats and reaffirmed the Corps’ historic and ongoing readiness to meet any challenge.

• Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) David Flosi described the Air Force as the most lethal and ready air power force in the world, with Airmen executing critical missions globally. He discussed the impact of strategic adversaries and budgetary uncertainty on readiness and called for support to improve dorms, healthcare access, childcare, and compensation. He also advocated for continued investment in mental health support and spousal employment initiatives. CMSAF Flosi urged Congress to address excess infrastructure to free up resources and improve the quality of life across the force.

• Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF) John Bentivenga claimed that despite comprising only 3% of the defense budget, the Space Force is vital to joint force lethality and national security. He described the increasing complexity of the space domain and the daily threats faced by Guardians. He called for investments in housing, healthcare, spouse employment, and training infrastructure to attract and retain talent. CMSSF Bentivegna concluded with three key points: the Space Force’s strategic importance, the harm caused by CRs, and the urgent need for growth and modernization funding.

• Chairman Carter asked for updates on how each service had responded to the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) 2023 report on unaccompanied housing, which identified serious safety and health concerns. He inquired about implementation timelines and costs, policy changes to address capacity issues, the mix between refurbishment and new construction, and the role of public-private partnerships.

  • SMA Weimer stated that the Army had evaluated its full barracks inventory using a condition index and could now target those most in need of repair. The Army was using creative approaches like “repair to replace” to maximize budget impact and had already allowed E-6s in Europe to move off base, though cost considerations remained.

  • MCPON Honea said that the Navy’s assessment showed 25% of their unaccompanied housing was in unacceptable condition. He advocated for expanding privatized housing in Norfolk and San Diego to rapidly increase bed capacity and restated that a reliable budget was essential for long-term improvements.

  • SMMC Ruiz credited the GAO report with accelerating the Barracks 2030 plan. He stressed that barracks are central to Marine culture and leadership development and explained the challenges and costs of demolishing versus refurbishing barracks.

  • CMSAF Flosi reported that no Air Force dorms were in failing condition, but the service was still investing heavily in renovations. He described a strategic effort to divest excess infrastructure to better focus resources where they were most needed.

  • CMSSF Bentivegna noted that 81% of Space Force dorms were in acceptable condition. He echoed the importance of consistent funding to maintain standards and support growth, especially as end strength increases.

• Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz expressed deep concern over the continued failings of privatized military family housing providers, especially Balfour Beatty. She asked what each service planned to do with FY25 and FY26 oversight funding and whether oversight positions were impacted by hiring freezes.

  • SMA Weimer said that the Army had completed 100% of third-party inspections in the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) and was 82% complete outside of the contiguous U.S. (OCONUS). He reported improved tenant involvement and on-site military oversight.

  • MCPON Honea reported that the Navy hired over 200 new oversight personnel using the oversight funds. He supported renegotiating privatized housing contracts and confirmed that all third-party inspections were completed.

  • SMMC Ruiz said that the Marine Corps hired about 118 oversight personnel and completed third-party inspections. He confirmed that oversight roles had not been affected by hiring freezes.

  • CMSAF Flosi noted that while oversight roles were generally unaffected, vacant positions were not exempt from the freeze. He was uncertain if any current hires were affected.

  • CMSSF Bentivegna replied that the Space Force was roughly 80% staffed for its integrated primary prevention workforce and faced difficulty hiring due to the competitive job market.

• The Ranking Member followed up on a question she asked the witnesses at last year’s hearing, inquiring about the actions each service had taken to improve sexual assault data, trust in the reporting system, and actual prevention outcomes.

  • SMA Weimer said that the Army was analyzing discrepancies between DOD data and the Brown University report and had increased command awareness through leadership courses.

  • MCPON Honea highlighted the use of climate surveys and site evaluations, praising the integrated prevention workforce’s support. He emphasized character development as a core prevention strategy.

  • SMMC Ruiz stressed the importance of culture and said the Corps had enhanced leader training and held symposiums and summits throughout 2024.

  • CMSAF Flosi detailed new prevention training, professional development programs, and efforts to address cyber harassment. He reported that over 1,000 resilience personnel had been assigned to bases.

  • CMSSF Bentivegna noted that Space Force-specific data had become available for the first time and showed above-average confidence in leadership. He underscored the role of leadership accountability in shaping safe unit climates.

• Rep. John Rutherford asked about the strategic importance of Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), recent space launch activity, and the benefits of relocating STARCOM headquarters to Florida. CMSSF Bentivegna explained STARCOM’s critical role in Guardian training, doctrine development, and simulation. He illustrated the synergy between STARCOM and the robust simulation and training community in Central Florida and said relocating STARCOM would improve recruitment, retention, and integration with academic and industry partners.

• Rep. Rutherford then asked about TRICARE’s new regional contract and provider payment issues, particularly in Jacksonville, FL. MCPON Honea acknowledged that low reimbursement rates and payment delays discouraged provider participation. He discussed the impact on family and operational readiness and said that TRICARE's problems were increasingly affecting military communities due to limited provider access.

• Rep. Sanford Bishop asked about the unintended consequences of recent pay raises—specifically how they might disqualify service members from childcare or food assistance programs like SNAP or WIC. SMMC Ruiz said that junior Marines were only likely to move up one bracket in childcare fees and that he was monitoring for any greater impacts. CMSAF Flosi added that installation-level commands had the authority to adjust fees based on demonstrated financial need.

• Rep. Bishop inquired about the impact of CRs and workforce cuts on quality of life programs and projects.

  • SMA Weimer stated that the CR had slowed some infrastructure projects, particularly hiring for roles in holistic health and nutrition. While exceptions were granted for childcare workers and medical staff, public works positions remained frozen.

  • MCPON Honea emphasized that while non-appropriated fund (NAF) employees were unaffected, the CR halted all FY25 construction projects, including barracks and Child Development Centers (CDCs).

  • SMMC Ruiz said that the Corps had anticipated leaner staffing and was already operating lightly. However, the inability to hire additional barracks managers was a growing concern.

  • CMSAF Flosi reported a $3 billion shortfall under the CR that affected research and development (R&D) and recruitment efforts. He highlighted the importance of protecting recruiting momentum and stated that the Air Force’s delayed enlistment numbers were the highest in over a decade.

  • CMSSF Bentivegna explained that the Space Force had planned CDC and dorm improvements in FY25, but the CR delayed those plans. He reiterated that consistent funding was essential for long-term quality of life improvements.

• Rep. Michael Guest asked how student throughput at military installations like Naval Air Station Meridian could be maintained during major repairs or renovations. SMMC Ruiz explained that the Marine Corps tries to conduct renovations in phases to avoid displacing large groups and has used modular structures where necessary. He described coordination with Navy leadership to minimize training disruptions. MCPON Honea added that the Navy uses data analytics to track throughput and applies mitigation strategies such as using other facilities or relocating personnel temporarily to avoid training bottlenecks.

• Rep. Guest asked for an overview of the Barracks 2030 initiative and how the Marine Corps coordinates with Navy leadership when Marines are housed on Navy installations. SMMC Ruiz described Barracks 2030 as a Commandant-driven infrastructure strategy based on comprehensive data. He claimed that the Marine Corps collaborates with all installation commanders, regardless of service, to ensure Marines are housed safely and effectively.

• Rep. Veronica Escobar expressed frustration over the effects of CRs and asked SMA Weimer to speak to innovative solutions in military construction, such as using intergovernmental agreements or 3D-printed barracks. SMA Weimer praised Fort Bliss as a model installation and agreed on the importance of creative construction solutions. He noted internal inefficiencies and rising costs due to force protection legacy requirements, labor access, and site-specific issues, but cautioned these were still only temporary fixes. He underlined the need for military construction (MILCON) reform.

• Rep. Stephanie Bice asked if extending parental leave from one to two years would benefit service members and improve workflow. MCPON Honea responded that the extension would be extremely helpful and provide critical flexibility for service members. All of the other witnesses agreed.

• Rep. Bice inquired about the challenges of demolishing vacant buildings and whether services lacked demolition funding. The witnesses confirmed that all services had buildings they wished to demolish but could not due to limited demolition budgets. CMSAF Flosi affirmed the 10:1 return on investment for demolition and called for increased appropriations to address this backlog.

• Rep. Bice then asked about successful strategies to reduce childcare waitlists. MCPON Honea cited the expanded use of fee assistance to access community-based childcare. CMSAF Flosi reported increased staffing and fee reimbursements for childcare workers and said that the Air Force’s family childcare homes and fee assistance programs served thousands of children while also supporting spousal employment.

• Rep. Mike Levin asked how rising construction costs affected the Marine Corps’ Barracks 2030 plans. SMMC Ruiz believed that budget pressures might extend timelines, but the Commandant remained committed to the initiative, viewing it as a long-term, multi-year investment.

• Rep. Levin asked whether services had assessed how tariffs were increasing construction costs. SMA Weimer stated that the Army had no formal analysis but noted that tariffs had previously delayed projects such as solar panel installations. He claimed that the Corps of Engineers was monitoring the issue.

• Rep. Levin followed up, asking how an 8% budget cut would affect the Marine Corps' ability to implement barracks improvements. SMMC Ruiz warned that in addition to delaying barracks upgrades, cuts could reduce bonuses and harm retention efforts by demoralizing Marines who expected incentives for staying in the service.

• Rep. Scott Franklin acknowledged the Marine Corps' strong retention rates and asked if any concerns remained. SMMC Ruiz confirmed that retention was currently strong but noted the need to sustain momentum and funding to support future success.

• Rep. Franklin asked about Army recruitment and retention, citing an article claiming that one-quarter of soldiers leave within two years and that waivers for medical and criminal issues were increasing. He requested clarification on standards and how to maintain public trust. SMA Weimer confirmed that the Army met its FY24 goal and that the Future Soldier Preparatory Course (FSPC) had helped improve access without lowering standards. Regarding felony waivers, he said he was unaware of the specific cases cited and would follow up for the record.

• Rep. Mark Alford praised Fort Leonard Wood and asked about the success of the FSPC. SMA Weimer said that over 33,000 participants had gone through the program, which helped many meet standards and begin their Army careers. He described the program as impactful and necessary.

• Rep. Alford asked about mental health challenges and how the Marine Corps was addressing them. SMMC Ruiz claimed that Marines are encouraged to seek help but face long delays due to provider shortages. He highlighted the importance of Marine Corps Total Fitness in promoting resilience while urging improvements to TRICARE access.

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