Ensuring Adequate Housing for Airmen, Guardians and their Families

Dear Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed:

The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) continues to be grateful to the congressional defense committees for their steadfast commitment to improving the quality of life of our service members and their families. Congress’s relentless efforts to address deficiencies in military housing are but one example of this dedication. This includes the committee’s authorization of studies to identify improvements to the way the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and the cost-of-living adjustments are calculated to ensure more stable and consistent results. Therefore, AFA fully supports the prompt completion of these reports so their recommendations may be considered for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In addition, AFA also requests additional resources be allocated for the construction of additional Department of the Air Force (DAF) military housing.  

Despite noble efforts, a long-term solution to problems facing military housing continues to elude the national security community. Although the BAH has increased by an annual rate of 4.7 percent over the past 10 years; for the same period, the Consumer Price Index for rental of a primary residence increased by 5.4 percent. Indeed, released in 2025, the 14^th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation concluded the BAH’s allowance formulas required updating as does how the cost of living is calculated.  

Additional resources are also required to build new military housing. Though the Department of the Air Force has invested $1.6 billion for the revitalization of dorms and child development centers, as of 2025, several bases continue to report dormitory shortages of 300 beds. A specific example is Nellis AFB, which reports a deficit of 590 beds. 

Congress has been relentless in addressing military housing deficiencies. This includes the authorization of studies to identify improvements to the way the BAH and the cost-of-living adjustments are calculated to ensure more stable and consistent results. Therefore, AFA fully supports the prompt completion of these reports so their recommendations can be considered for inclusion in the FY’27 NDAA. In addition, AFA also requests additional resources be allocated for the construction of additional DAF military housing.  

Thank you for your consideration of these matters.

Yours truly,

Kathleen Ferguson
AFA Chair of the Board

Burton Field, Lt Gen, USAF (Ret.)
President & CEO