U.S. Department of War and U.S. Navy Reach Financial Close on $1.7 Billion Hampton Roads Sailor Barracks Project... "Our Decisive Advantage Is Always the Warfighter"

WASHINGTON

The U.S. Department of War and the Department of the Navy announced on October 23 (local time) the financial close of the $1.7 billion "Homeport Hampton Roads Phase II" project to modernize unaccompanied housing for sailors in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.

Department of War, Navy: "Modernizing Housing for Thousands of Sailors with $1.7 Billion"... 8,098 Beds Over 5 Years

According to the Department of War, the Department of War and the Department of the Navy announced that day the financial close of Homeport Hampton Roads Phase II, a $1.7 billion project to modernize unaccompanied housing for thousands of sailors across the Hampton Roads area. The Department of War announced that this agreement with Hunt Military Communities transitions the project from the planning phase to the construction phase, delivering modern barracks in Newport News.

The Department of War stated that this project will replace aging facilities, including Huntington Hall, and address urgent unaccompanied housing needs across Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. According to the Department of War, the project will construct or renovate 8,098 beds over five years.

The Department of War announced that this agreement leveraging private-sector capital is expected to save taxpayers more than $325 million and free up resources for other Navy quality-of-life priorities. According to the Department of War, the project is designed to increase long-term maintenance funding by 400%, ensuring high living standards throughout the duration of the agreement.

The Department of War announced that the project is supported by regional partnerships, including an interest-free loan approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia to the City of Newport News. The Department of War stated that this project aligns with the Department's broader priority of modernizing military infrastructure, ensuring that shore installations support today's mission and warfighter needs while the Navy enhances the fleet.

Under Secretary Duffey: "Warfighters Ahead of Ships and Aircraft"... Acting Secretary Cao: "Sailors Are an Asymmetric Advantage"

According to the Department of War, Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, said, "Ships, aircraft, weapons, and networks matter, but our decisive advantage is, and always will be, the warfighter." He added, "That means investing in the places where our Sailors live, train, recover, and prepare for the next mission." Under Secretary Duffey said, "I am grateful to Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Hunt Military Communities, and our regional partners for working together to make the Hampton Roads barracks project a reality."

According to the Department of War, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said, "Skilled warfighters are the asymmetric advantage that makes our Navy great." Acting Secretary Cao added, "This investment to renovate and construct housing for more than 8,000 Sailors across Hampton Roads ensures they have the quality of service they deserve, while being good stewards of American taxpayers' dollars."

Acting Secretary Cao stated on his official X account that day that it was a "fine Navy day," noting that together with Under Secretary Duffey, he welcomed home and presented the Presidential Unit Citation to the destroyer USS McFaul after 332 days at sea, and celebrated the closing of the $1.7 billion unaccompanied housing Hunt agreement with Hampton Roads civic leaders. Acting Secretary Cao added that on the same day he attended a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) event for Norfolk Public Schools students held at Naval Station Norfolk and had lunch with the crew of the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio. The official U.S. Navy X account posted the Department of War press release on the same day, which Acting Secretary Cao's account reshared.

Navy: "No Sailor Lives Afloat"... Over 4,500 Move to Shore Housing

In a press release on February 19, the U.S. Navy announced that it is advancing the Chief of Naval Operations' "No Sailor Lives Afloat" initiative, which ensures that all sailors assigned to ships and sea-duty units have access to shore-based housing. According to the Navy, approximately 4,500 sailors had transitioned from shipboard living to shore accommodations as of February.

According to the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said, "Ensuring that no Sailor lives afloat is about readiness, dignity, and trust. When ships are in port, Sailors deserve safe, modern shore housing where they can rest, recover, and reconnect." Caudle said, "This initiative ensures we invest in our people's well-being with the same seriousness that we invest in our platforms and capabilities, because a ready Navy begins with ready Sailors."

Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) announced that it is expanding access to quality housing by accelerating renovations of aging barracks, reactivating decommissioned barracks, expanding temporary lodging, and collaborating with Public-Private Venture (PPV) housing partners. According to the Navy, Vice Adm. Scott Gray, Commander of Navy Installations Command, said, "Living aboard ship is for operational necessity, not everyday living. When ships are in port, we will make sure every Sailor has access to clean, safe, and comfortable lodging." CNIC announced that it identified near- and long-term initiatives to expand unaccompanied housing at all major homeports, including improving conditions in existing barracks, reactivating rooms through additional investment, expanding PPV options, exploring innovative housing solutions, and pursuing Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) increases. According to the Navy, CNIC is responsible for managing Navy shore installations worldwide, overseeing 10 Navy regions, 70 installations, and more than 48,600 personnel, with the Navy defining shore installations as warfighting platforms essential to all fleet operations.

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) announced in April that a complete interior renovation of a 10-story unaccompanied housing facility at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Washington, was completed 30 days ahead of schedule, providing 304 modern beds directly supporting the "No Sailor Lives Afloat" initiative. According to NAVFAC, the building suffered fire and water damage in August 2025, and NAVFAC Northwest prepared authorization documents and the statement of work to award a contract in November of that year, completing the full renovation in just over seven months. NAVFAC announced that the contractor received financial incentives for finishing four weeks ahead of the contractual completion date, made possible by a specialized contracting mechanism that incentivizes speed and efficiency. Capt. Preston Taylor, Commanding Officer of NAVFAC Northwest, said, "Providing quality, safe, and comfortable housing is foundational to ensuring our service members are mission-ready. The speed and quality of this renovation show our commitment to putting Sailors first." According to NAVFAC, Capt. Alex Baerg, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Kitsap, said, "Getting Sailors off ship berthing and into modern, comfortable accommodations is absolutely vital to mission readiness."

Secretary Hegseth: "No More Delays, No More Excuses"... Barracks Task Force Launched

According to the Department of War, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directed the establishment of a Barracks Task Force in an October 6, 2025 memorandum to develop a department-wide barracks improvement investment plan and report on progress within 30 days. The Department of War announced that the task force includes representatives from across the Department, such as contracting experts, installation commanders, and personnel, readiness, and financial specialists.

According to the Department of War, in a video posted to Department social media on November 25 of the same year, Secretary Hegseth said, "For too long, this department has failed too many of our warfighters. Every single member of the joint force deserves to live in housing that is clean, comfortable and safe." Secretary Hegseth continued, "This isn't just a matter of basic convenience. It affects morale, it affects readiness, and it affects our ability to recruit and retain the best warriors." He added, "The quality of life of our warriors is a key component to bringing back the warrior ethos and rebuilding our military. How can we expect someone to be ready for anything on the battlefield when their living quarters are a constant source of stress and frustration? That ends now."

Secretary Hegseth said, "No more delays, no more excuses, and no more business as usual. Standards will be enforced and accountability is nonnegotiable. This is not another multiyear study." According to the Department of War, the task force is moving quickly to accelerate construction and renovations through innovative technologies and contracting strategies leveraging private-sector expertise, consolidate maintenance, service, and equipment contracts where possible, empower unit commanders and senior noncommissioned officers to fix problems on the ground without waiting for Pentagon bureaucracy, and develop new solutions to renovate and maintain barracks alongside the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Department of War announced that the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Energy, Installations, and Environment, and the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness are involved in planning and executing the Secretary's directives.

On October 29, the Department of War announced through an article produced by NAVFAC Hawaii that construction of two new barracks at Marine Corps Base Hawaii has surpassed the halfway mark. According to the Department of War, NAVFAC Hawaii's $174.6 million project was approximately 53% complete as of October 1, with framing finished and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) rough-ins and interior finishes underway. The two interconnected five-story buildings will replace end-of-life facilities, providing 190 rooms to accommodate up to 380 service members. NAVFAC Hawaii Executive Officer Capt. Andrew Hunt said, "These new barracks are an investment in our Marines and their readiness. Modern, comfortable living spaces allow our Marines to rest, recharge, and stay focused on the mission." According to the Department of War, construction teams have installed all windows and handrails across both buildings, completed mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-ins through the third floor, and logged more than 170,000 work hours without any lost-time injuries. The barracks will feature elevators, duty officer spaces, laundry facilities, multi-purpose rooms with kitchenettes and restrooms, gear wash and dry areas, bike storage, and gazebos, with the project scheduled for completion in June 2029.

Secretary Hegseth announced on his official X account on October 19 that he officially appointed Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer as Senior Advisor to the Barracks Task Force. Secretary Hegseth stated, "He will represent my office on installations across the nation, going straight to our warfighters to identify what's broken and ensure we fix it. Our warriors deserve nothing less." The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment stated on its official X account on October 26 that it was proud to join Acting Secretary of the Navy Cao, Hunt Military Communities, and regional partners to mark financial close on the $1.7 billion Hampton Roads Barracks Project, moving essential unaccompanied housing from plan to construction.

Sources (KST)

• U.S. Department of War Press Release, "DoW, Navy Close on $1.7 Billion Hampton Roads Barracks Project" (October 23, 2026): https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4632102/dow-navy-close-on-17-billion-hampton-roads-barracks-project/
• U.S. Navy Press Release, "Navy Advances No Sailor Lives Afloat Initiative by Expanding Shore Housing Capacity" (February 19, 2026): https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/4409970/navy-advances-no-sailor-lives-afloat-initiative-by-expanding-shore-housing-capa/
• Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), "Bremerton Unaccompanied Housing Renovation Finishes Early, Supports 'No Sailor Lives Afloat' Initiative" (April 23, 2026): https://www.navfac.navy.mil/Home/News-Detail/Article/4471310/bremerton-unaccompanied-housing-renovation-finishes-early-supports-no-sailor-li/
• U.S. Department of War, "Hegseth Directs Task Force to Oversee Departmentwide Barracks Improvement": https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4350564/hegseth-directs-task-force-to-oversee-departmentwide-barracks-improvement/
• U.S. Department of War, "Marine Corps Base Hawaii Barracks Project Crosses Halfway Mark" (October 29, 2026, prepared by NAVFAC Hawaii): https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4637113/marine-corps-base-hawaii-barracks-project-crosses-halfway-mark/
• Official U.S. Navy X (October 23, 2026): https://x.com/USNavy/status/2113683403291889752
• Official X of Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao (October 23, 2026): https://x.com/SECNAV/status/2113680650179924196
• Official X of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (October 19, 2026): https://x.com/SecWar/status/2112304408696414322
• Official X of the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (October 26, 2026): https://x.com/DoW_USW_AS/status/2114701358221934968