U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressman Jamie Raskin (all D), released a statement Feb. 17 calling on the U.S. Navy to address the poor and unsafe living conditions for junior servicemen barracks at Naval Support Activity (NSA)-Bethesda, located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“A February 4, 2022 report from the Navy Times described junior enlisted sailors and soldiers living without air conditioning or hot water and rooms without working refrigerators, thermostats, or door locks,” the lawmakers wrote in a statement.
Two junior enlisted barracks, Comfort Hall and Sanctuary Hall, were reported to have been without basic amenities for years. These issues were reportedly known to Navy leadership, although they have gone unaddressed. It was noted by the reports that NSA-Bethesda leadership recently acknowledged mishandling repair requests.
“These conditions have serious impacts on health, morale, personal safety, and military readiness,” wrote the lawmakers.
Reports of mold, asbestos, roof leaks, electrical issues, and structural instability make the barracks unsafe to live in. A fire in 2019 destroyed half of the barracks, rendering the section uninhabitable.
According to the lawmakers, Congressional staff visits and the FY 2020 Military Construction-VA appropriations bill have directed the Navy to prioritize the refurbishment and upkeep of the barracks, but these requests have largely gone ignored.
The lawmakers have asked the U.S. Navy to provide written assurance the living conditions at the Bethesda barracks be addressed, giving a week’s time to respond. “We owe it to the men and women entrusted to the care of this installation that NSA-Bethesda and Walter Reed are home to world-class facilities and management,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Torro.
