WASHINGTON, D.C. — One of the largest providers of privatized military housing is accused of continuing to put the health and safety of military families at risk, even after the company pleaded guilty to fraud in a federal investigation, according to a new report released by a Senate subcommittee on Tuesday.
The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations looked into complaints against Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC., which operates more than 43,000 on-base homes in 26 states, according to the report.
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The focus of the investigation was on Balfour Beatty’s management of military housing at Fort Gordon in Georgia and Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.
“PSI’s inquiry found numerous examples since late 2019 of poor conditions in Balfour’s military housing and disregard of safety concerns and environmental hazards that put military families at risk,” the report said.
WATCH: Chair @ossoff's opening remarks in today's PSI hearing on the mistreatment of military families in privatized housing. pic.twitter.com/eZwnSi30Vg
— Ossoff's Office (@SenOssoff) April 26, 2022
Captain Samuel Choe and his wife and three kids used to live in military housing at Fort Gordon run by Balfour Beatty.
Choe testified before the Senate subcommittee about how mold and mildew led to serious rashes and health problems for their daughter.
“There is negligence across the board here,” said Choe. “She is diagnosed with a condition called severe atopic dermatitis to the point where it’s potentially fatal. Unfortunately, the basis of her condition was founded upon what she was exposed to while we resided on post at Fort Gordon.”
Choe said the damage has been life-changing for his family.
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“The literal scars of her experience haunt her and plague her to this day,” said Choe.
The report said Choe’s experience is sadly not uncommon.
It found Balfour Beatty’s leadership repeatedly “failed to properly respond to both repairs and environmental hazards.”
It pointed to cases of water leaks, collapsed ceilings and flooring and concerns about asbestos.
“Neglect, misconduct and abuse that persisted even after Balfour Beatty plead guilty to a scheme to defraud the United States between 2013 and 2019,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff, Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
WATCH: "As Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, or 'PSI' as it's known on Capitol Hill, Georgia Senator Jon @ossoff took the lead on an 8-month deep dive looking at alleged mistreatment of military families in privatized housing on U.S. bases" -@MeredithWRDW pic.twitter.com/mNsHtoxILR
— Ossoff's Office (@SenOssoff) April 25, 2022
“These men and women should expect to live in conditions that will not damage the health and safety of themselves and their families,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
The report said federal agencies will “need to conduct more robust oversight” of Balfour Beatty but some witnesses called for the company to stop providing military housing altogether.
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“Service members have lost their faith in companies like Balfour Beatty due to their continued disregard for the health and safety of our military families,” said Rachel Christian, Chief Legislative Officer for Armed Forces Housing Advocates. “We believe that ending the partnership with Balfour Beatty is the only way to ensure the readiness of our service members.”
We contacted Balfour Beatty for comment on the report’s findings but have not heard back.
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