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The Army has requested a significant budget increase to enhance and expand its barracks and housing for junior troops. The proposal’s total increase of $2.35 billion for 2025 marks a significant jump from the current fiscal year’s $1.5 billion request. This increase includes a notable expansion in funding for new construction, reflecting the Army’s prioritization of improving living conditions for its service members.
The proposed budget, totaling $185.9 billion, represents a slight 0.2% increase from this year, which, when adjusted for inflation, suggests the Army will operate with a similar budget in 2025.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said, “Despite an overall flat Army budget and many competing resource requirements, we are significantly increasing funding for barracks construction, restoration, and modernization. We will continue to work with Congress to make barracks a long-term investment priority, as the Army still faces a significant maintenance backlog in our large inventory of aging barracks.”
This proposal not only addresses the immediate need for improved housing but also signals a shift towards addressing quality-of-life issues that have long affected junior troops. The official request will now put pressure on Congress to respond to the Army’s request for increased funding, which many lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have called for significant investments to refurbish old barracks and replace outdated infrastructure. This bipartisan effort comes after a report revealed that 23% of barracks were found to be in “poor” or “failing” condition after a service-wide inspection.
The funding request also includes plans for sustainment, with $680 million proposed for barracks maintenance, an increase from this year’s $567 million.
