Latest news with #Hots&Cots
NBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
DHS wants National Guard to search for and transport unaccompanied migrant children
Tensions between DOD and DHS over cost The Pentagon is also being asked by DHS to pay the full cost of deploying the 21,000 National Guard troops. That comes amid growing tension between the Pentagon and DHS over the cost of border and other immigrant-related operations. The DHS request for National Guard troops comes as the Pentagon is already footing a $23-million-a-month bill to hold as many as 2,500 undocumented immigrants in a military facility in Texas. Defense officials say they are frustrated that the camp is holding far fewer than they were told to expect and they want a reprieve. The Defense Department is in a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to help support DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, officers who are under pressure from Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to arrest 3,000 undocumented immigrants each day. But it has been slow going for ICE agents, resulting in fewer arrests of undocumented immigrants across the country. That has resulted in many empty beds at facilities like one in El Paso, owned and operated by the Defense Department. Military officials say the facility has been holding an average of 150 undocumented immigrants each day over the last several weeks — a fraction of its 2,500 beds. On one recent day, they said, the facility housed fewer than 80 people. Pentagon officials are asking to cut the number of beds in the facility from 2,500 to about 1,000, which they say would save $12 million per month. It is not clear if the DHS request for National Guard troops will increase the need for beds in the facility. The DHS request also comes as the Pentagon is struggling to fund critical projects to support U.S. troops. 'Congress is aware that the department is redirecting funds from existing military construction projects like barracks improvements for lower enlisted personnel and longstanding infrastructure projects elsewhere in the world in favor of southwest border missions,' a Senate aide who spoke on condition of anonymity told NBC News. 'They are pretty frustrated with the way that the department is ordering them to support DHS out of their own pockets for a grossly disproportionate cost compared to what ICE facilities would cost the government,' added the aide, referring to military officials. Last month, the Pentagon notified Congress that they plan to transfer more than $1.74 million in the current DOD budget to the southwest border mission, which will include taking money away from renovating barracks and base facilities. Service member advocacy groups have criticized the move. Rob Evans, the founder of Hots&Cots, where services members can post reviews of barracks, dining facilities and other facilities, says he sees evidence daily of barracks with sewage leaks, mold, failing HVAC systems, and more. 'When funding is pulled from this line, troops pay the price in real ways: delayed repairs, worsening conditions, and a growing sense that their well-being comes second to optics and operations,' Evans said. 'Service members deserve clean, safe, and dignified living conditions. They've earned at least that much.'
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fort Cavazos soldiers say AC problems tormented them for over a month
An air conditioning problem that plagued the U.S. Army's Fort Cavazos barracks in early February continued for several weeks after being identified, according to testimonials from soldiers. Soldiers said they experienced five to six weeks of unbearably hot temperatures in their rooms, reporting the problems both on the dorm-reviewing app Hots&Cots and through statements provided to Military Times. On Feb. 7, a Fort Cavazos spokesperson confirmed at least 10 buildings were affected by a mechanical failure with water pumps that controlled the AC units. Brian Dosa, director of the Directorate of Public Works, said in an emailed statement that the chillers were fixed and the air conditioning was restored as of Feb. 28. 'The root problem was a manufacturer's recall on one of our three chillers, which we had to take offline,' Dosa said. The Directorate of Public Works oversees the facility management of Fort Cavazos, according to the Army website. Fort Cavazos worked to fix the problems in the previous weeks, but the repairs didn't go as planned, the base previously acknowledged. When Military Times reported on the issue Feb. 7, a spokesperson for the base did not provide a timeline for when the repairs would finally be completed. 'The Fort Cavazos Garrison Team is working closely with 1st Cavalry Division leadership to provide appropriate accommodations to impacted soldiers until successful repairs can be completed,' the statement read at the time. Broken AC at Fort Cavazos leaves soldiers sweating Hots&Cots founder Rob Evans contacted Military Times last week, flagging further complaints about the AC units on the review app. He said the problems had affected 41 buildings, instead of the previously reported 10, claiming that the larger number was given to him by Fort Cavazos. When reached for comment, Fort Cavazos did not confirm that 41 buildings were dealing with an AC unit problem. Instead, they confirmed that 41 facilities received chilled water for air conditioning, with 10 of those being barracks. Throughout February, Hots&Cots posts continued to complain of excessive heat at the Texas military base. A review posted Feb. 15 showed a photo of a thermostat reading 80 degrees Fahrenheit, along with a caption that read, 'STILL busted.' Two separate posts uploaded on Feb. 26 similarly showed high room temperatures, one at 78 and one at 89 degrees Fahrenheit. 'We're going on 5-6 Weeks of NO AC, I'm at my wits end,' the latter post read. 'Leadership and garrison has ZERO care for single soldier Quality of Life.' Another post Feb. 20 even showed a room dipping into cold temperatures, with a photo of a 57.5 Fahrenheit thermometer reading. When complaints first started flooding Hots&Cots, soldiers accused the base of closing work orders immediately after they'd submitted them, despite the issue persisting. 'There is no need for multiple open work orders for a problem that has already been identified,' a Fort Cavazos spokesperson said at the time. A soldier stationed at Fort Cavazos spoke to Military Times on Feb. 28 and described a lackluster response to the complaints about AC problems. The soldier spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing potential retaliation. 'I've called them about four or five times periodically 'cause this AC thing has been an issue for the last five to six weeks,' the soldier said. The soldier also described a problem-solving system in which electronically filed complaints were immediately canceled after submission. 'They refused to put in a work order because there were already work orders in,' the soldier said. Meanwhile, the soldier's barracks room consistently reached high temperatures. On the evening of Feb. 26, the room was 84 degrees, making it difficult to sleep, the soldier said. The Directorate of Public Works advised the soldier to buy a portable AC unit to help cool down the room, without offering reassurance that any money spent on a unit would be reimbursed. The soldier declined out of principle. Barracks problems take center stage at military readiness hearing Plug-in fans were dispersed to soldiers at the building's duty desk one day, the soldier said, but a fan wasn't enough to successfully combat the heat. As of March 4, the soldier's room was hovering at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, creating doubts about whether the issue had been fully resolved. The soldier believes the base's broken AC units — and the response from leadership — were indicative of a more systemic problem. 'The AC situation is a symptom of the bigger issue of DPW not actually being held accountable to get stuff done,' the soldier said. The Directorate of Public Works was slow to respond to work orders, the soldier claimed, and sometimes the office didn't respond at all. Like with the AC problems, orders for other issues submitted in the past had been canceled before any solution was provided, as well, according to the soldier. The soldier described the overall quality of life at Fort Cavazos as poor, with broken washing machines and dryers and mold in certain barracks, which the soldier worried would be exacerbated by the intense heat from the AC problem. 'We take our responsibility to care for our single Soldiers who live in barracks on Fort Cavazos very seriously and respond to all work orders that we receive, including reports of mold,' Dosa said in response to an inquiry about the complaints. Dosa said a barracks renovation program had invested $835 million in upgrading 72 out of 100 barracks over the past 12 years, referencing the makeover as an example of the base's commitment to its soldiers' wellbeing. On April 8, 2021, the U.S. Army announced an 'on-post housing overhaul' worth $420 million that would replace 600 homes at Fort Cavazos. 'As of today, we are tracking 17 rooms in two permanent party barracks and one transient barrack with confirmed mold,' Dosa said. 'These rooms are under contract for remediation.' Dosa recommended soldiers submit a work order through ArMA, the Army Maintenance Activity platform, or call (254) 287-2113 to report any suspected mold in their rooms.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Broken AC at Fort Cavazos leaves soldiers sweating
Fort Cavazos, Texas, is currently working to address problems with its air conditioning units that have left soldiers facing uncomfortably hot conditions in their barracks. Complaints about the conditions were posted in early February on Hots&Cots – a popular app where service members review dorms and dining halls – with photos showing room temperatures hovering around 80 degrees. 'Our Junior barracks doesn't even have windows that open so Screw us/them I guess,' one post read. 'Was advised by DPW to buy my own portable AC.' The Hots&Cots account on the social platform X said 50 buildings were affected by the air conditioning issues. Soldiers also complained that work orders they submitted were immediately closed and labeled as a 'known issue' by the system, rather than being left open until the problem was fixed. 'Accountability matters,' the X post read. A Fort Cavazos spokesperson said the number of affected buildings totaled far fewer than 50. They included nine barracks plus one other structure, and the problems arose from a mechanical failure with water pumps, the spokesperson said. Republican lawmakers urge Army leaders to improve barracks conditions The spokesperson also explained that work orders were closed on the Army Maintenance Application website because there was preexisting knowledge of the situation. Replacement parts were ordered after the issue was identified. 'There is no need for multiple open work orders for a problem that has already been identified,' the spokesperson said. On Wednesday, the Hots&Cots account on X reported a drop in Fort Cavazos room temperatures, only to publish another post one day later saying the air conditioning repairs hit a 'snag,' 'didn't go as planned' and would need another five to seven days for a full fix. 'I appreciate that leadership is actively working with the soldiers to address this issue,' the X post read. A Fort Cavazos spokesperson confirmed in a statement Thursday that the repairs were unsuccessful but did not give a timeline for when the work would be completed. 'The Fort Cavazos Garrison Team is working closely with 1st Cavalry Division leadership to provide appropriate accommodations to impacted soldiers until successful repairs can be completed,' the statement read.
