The Inspector General’s field review of soldiers stationed along the border reveals a troubling picture of maintenance neglect and leadership shortfalls that undermine readiness and morale, a matter that must concern every American who wants a strong, disciplined force protecting the nation.
The IG “observed unsanitary conditions in bathroom facilities” at soldiers’ barracks at Fort Bliss, Texas, and housing facilities at the Doña Ana Range Complex in New Mexico, which included “leaking raw sewage, non-functional toilets, and general disrepair of facilities.”
This level of neglect is unacceptable for a force kept ready for crisis and must be addressed with urgency because it directly affects the welfare and effectiveness of those guarding the frontier.
The review focused on housing for the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colorado, at a time when nearly 2,400 soldiers from the unit had deployed to the border, bringing Joint Task Force-Southern Border to nearly 9,000 personnel.
In May through August 2025, the brigade’s preventative medicine team flagged health and safety concerns at the Doña Ana Range Complex, noting that housing air conditioners caused respiratory symptoms for soldiers and that standing water from AC unit condensation and rain caused a “large increase in both the insect and mosquito population.”
They also documented outstanding work orders for clogged toilets and broken AC units, and soldiers told investigators that the air conditioners routinely didn’t work. Because air quality and humidity control are basic requirements for any housing, the findings illustrate a preventable drain on troop readiness.
Fort Bliss officials told the Inspector General that exceeding the housing areas’ electrical capacity could trip the circuit breakers, creating a fire risk in aging buildings, a risk that should never be tolerated in units tasked with border security and rapid response.
At the same time, the absence of reliable power undermines medical readiness and daily comfort, which in turn saps morale when the nation requires unwavering vigilance.
When U.S. Northern Command established the Joint Task Force-Southern Border, leaders requested barracks from the Fort Bliss Garrison, but Bliss personnel determined that they couldn’t meet the housing needs on post, so they decided to house some soldiers at the Doña Ana Range Complex.
The barracks on Fort Bliss were designated as “housing for transient personnel and not for continuous use,” reads the watchdog report, a designation that underscores the misalignment between housing policy and the demanding realities of border missions.
Beyond the unsanitary and unsafe conditions, regulators found that the housing itself ran afoul of regulations that specify the amount of time soldiers can be housed in cramped conditions, with exceptions that require waivers from commanders or medical personnel.
Fort Bliss housing had “as little as 45 square feet per soldier,” and Doña Ana Range Complex had “as little as 69 square feet per soldier.”
These figures reveal a breach not merely of comfort but of basic standard protections for service members in the midst of demanding deployments.
As of November 2025, soldiers at the border were no longer housed at the Doña Ana Range Complex, a development that signals both a corrective step and a warning that similar failures cannot be allowed to recur.
The episode should serve as a catalyst for reform, because a frontline force must be housed in conditions that reflect the seriousness of its mission and the nation’s commitment to its guardians.
This situation matters beyond the immediate mess on the ground, because it speaks to accountability at the highest levels and to the readiness of the armed forces under a President who has pledged bold leadership on national security.
The men and women who volunteer to defend the country deserve facilities that respect their service, especially when their duties place them at the most vulnerable frontiers.
In the current moment, the approach to border defense cannot tolerate bureaucratic inertia or excuses about infrastructure.
Accountability must accompany policy, because soldiers’ welfare and mission readiness depend on credible investments in housing, air quality, and electrical safety.
The report’s findings should spark not only corrective fixes but a broader reexamination of how the defense establishment allocates resources to sustain a force capable of meeting the challenges ahead.
President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would undoubtedly press for swift reforms, because a fighting force cannot operate from barracks that degrade health and morale.
Therefore, lawmakers and military leaders should regard this report as a call to action, ensuring every dollar spent on border security translates into secure, habitable, and capable housing for those who stand guard on our nation’s front lines.