A new government report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has shed light on the dire living conditions that some military members face in their barracks across the country. The 118-page report, published on Monday, detailed a range of issues including pests such as roaches and bed bugs, toxic waste, and even squatters invading the barracks. These conditions not only put the health and safety of service members at risk but also damage morale.

The report found that military leaders at the Pentagon have struggled to address the problem effectively, as they have not been able to provide adequate oversight. Instead, they have left it up to each individual service to handle the issues. To compile the report, investigators from the GAO visited 12 military installations and conducted discussions with service members to gain their perspectives.

One of the key concerns raised by service members was the presence of dirty water in their barracks buildings, which was seemingly unsafe to drink. Additionally, broken air conditioning and heating systems were a common complaint, forcing many members to purchase their own individual air conditioning units or resort to unsafe space heaters for warmth in colder months. Investigators also discovered that some buildings lacked secure windows and doors, which allowed squatters to occupy the rooms.

In one extreme case, officials from one installation informed GAO investigators that service members were responsible for cleaning biological waste left behind in barracks rooms after a suicide.

The GAO report included numerous photos from the visited military installations, showcasing the deplorable conditions faced by service members. The photos depicted restrooms with overflowing sewage, cracked sewage pipes, water damage, pests, and mold or mildew growth. Some photos even revealed the possessions of unauthorized squatters who had taken up residence in the barracks.

The report attributed the slow response to improving living conditions in the barracks to insufficient systems and inconsistent evaluation processes. These failures often result in a failure to identify issues before they deteriorate further. Furthermore, the report highlighted the lack of universal standards for health and safety, with no rules preventing installations and services from assigning troops to substandard living spaces.

Barracks rooms are typically occupied by the military's youngest and lowest-ranking members, many of whom have recently completed basic and job training. While the exact number of service members living in substandard conditions is unclear due to the lack of universal tracking, the report estimated that "at least thousands of service members are affected" by the poor quality of their barracks.

The GAO report concluded with 31 recommendations for the Defense Department to address the issue. These recommendations include providing guidance on barracks condition assessments, obtaining complete funding information, and increasing oversight of the barracks programs. While the Defense Department concurred with 23 of these recommendations, partially concurring with the remaining eight, the GAO stressed that it believes the Defense Department should fully implement all of the recommendations.

Responding to the report, a spokesperson from the GAO emphasized that the problems detailed in the report were the result of chronic neglect and underfunding. The spokesperson called for clearer standards for barracks quality and increased accountability for the military services in meeting those standards. Additionally, the spokesperson urged the Defense Department to develop a joint strategy for improving barracks conditions and collect more accurate and comprehensive data on funding allocation and service members' satisfaction with their living conditions.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Brendan Owens, the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Energy Installations and Environment, and Chief Housing Officer, acknowledged that the Defense Department has failed in ensuring proper living spaces for troops. Owens expressed his commitment to take action and increase oversight and accountability in government-owned unaccompanied housing. He pledged to address the unacceptable living conditions impacting service members and work with the individual branches to ensure they have a safe and secure place to live.

Owens concluded his statement by reaffirming the Department of Defense's moral obligation to provide housing that dignifies the service of military members while enabling them to carry out their critical missions effectively. He assured service members that their concerns would be addressed, and collective efforts would be made to enhance their wellbeing and readiness.