Top House Appropriations Democrats on Friday fired off a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over the costly upkeep and “emergency” painting of his government-owned residence.
Important Information
- The Army briefed the Appropriations Committee on plans to “exceed the $35,000 threshold for operation, maintenance and repair” of a government home that Hegseth, who also owns a house in Tennessee, will occupy, according to a letter written by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.
- The Democrats even claimed that an “emergency” paint job used $49,900 of the $137,297 required to build housing.
- In the letter to Hegseth, the secretary is required to explain why the urgent painting was needed, how much rent he will pay for the house, and furnish a list of previous secretaries of defense who required government-provided housing that included the same expenses as maintaining his own house prior to occupancy and yearly rent.
- Whereas the size of the home is not known, Democrats released a statement on Friday where the house measured 4,000 square feet in size.
- As Military.com points out, it is common for a secretary of defense to reside in a private home as did former Biden administration Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Task and Purpose reported, who made his permanent home in a roughly $3 million, 8,700-square foot house in Great Falls, Virginia while in office.
- Military residences that have maintenance and repair expenses greater than $35,000 need military branches to disclose what housing units have expenses above the threshold and provide a “detailed justification” for which entity should reimburse the expenses.
- Forbes reached out to the Department of Defense for comment but didn’t immediately respond.
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An Important Quotation.
“At a time when many service members and their families live in abominable housing conditions that include mold, lead paint, and other hazards, the well-paid TV personality wants the public to cover this and other living expenses,” Democrats said in the letter. Military families have complained about mildew, lead paint, and poor maintenance of military housing. More than 100 military posts with housing received overall low satisfaction ratings on surveys, according to a 2019 Reuters investigation that identified hundreds of complaints of mold, pest infestations, and health issues tied to housing.
Forbes Valuation
Hegseth and his wife have an estimated net worth of $3 million, which includes $700,000 in home equity, investments, and cash. The secretary receives $235,100 a year, which is roughly a tenth of the more than $2 million he earned as a Fox host. According to Forbes, the primary asset of Hegseth and his spouse, a 77-acre property near Goodlettsville, Tennessee, is currently valued at approximately $3.2 million. The Hegseths are now paying more than $19,000 a month on the $2.5 million remaining mortgage payment for the house, bought for little over $3.4 million three years ago.
Important Background
Throughout his campaign and confirmation as defense secretary, Democrats have kept a close eye on Hegseth. Democrats expressed concerns about Hegseth’s reported sexual misconduct, which he denies, and claims of binge drinking that surround his 2016 stint as president of Concerned Veterans for America. Given that the secretary has publicly declared that women shouldn’t be placed in combat roles, Democrats have also targeted Hegseth over his comments regarding women in the military. Senate Republicans.Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell sided with Democrats and their concerns about Hegseth when they voted against his confirmation. Murkowski was unable to back his nomination in “good conscience,” she said. The Senate confirmed Hegseth after Vice President JD Vance broke a 50/50 tie. He has denied much of what is being said about him.
