Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not personally request the $137,000 in repairs and upgrades for his official residence at Fort McNair, according to a U.S. official. The Army made the decision to carry out these repairs independently, as the historic home had been vacant for a year and needed security improvements.
A recent notification to Congress, dated January 30, revealed that nearly $50,000 of the total cost was spent on painting alone. This disclosure has raised concerns among some Democratic lawmakers, who are now calling for more transparency regarding the expenses. They are questioning why these costs were necessary and whether Hegseth will be required to pay rent, as other senior defense officials do when living in military-provided housing.
The Army chose this residence for Hegseth based on availability. The U.S. official, who spoke anonymously, clarified that Hegseth did not ask for the repairs, some of which were necessary for security reasons. As the sixth person in the presidential line of succession, his safety is a priority.
Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, chose to live in a private home that he purchased himself. The Army issued a statement explaining that maintenance and repairs are routine for all residences between occupants. Historic homes, like the one at Fort McNair, generally cost more to maintain due to their size and intricate architectural details.
The timing of these expenses has drawn attention, especially since the Trump administration is actively working to cut costs across government agencies. President Donald Trump has announced plans to have Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency review the Pentagon’s spending.
Meanwhile, many military families living on bases worldwide continue to face housing issues such as mold, delayed repairs, and aging infrastructure. Lawmakers argue that service members deserve the same level of care and attention for their housing as high-ranking officials receive.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, criticized the spending, stating that Hegseth should be aware of the costs associated with his preferred residence. She called it hypocritical for the administration to demand budget cuts from American families while spending taxpayer money on luxury housing.
Fort McNair, one of the oldest Army installations in the country, has historically housed high-ranking military officers. While it is uncommon for a Cabinet member to live there, similar security upgrades were made when former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo resided at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall during Trump’s first term.
