While the Department of Defense acknowledges there’s “no room on base,” the “military continues to push its housing requirements outside the fence.”

This according to Guam-based Think Tank Pacific Center for Island Security who are raising concerns over the recently signed FY25 National Defense Authorization Act.

The massive $895 billion defense spending package authorizes $2.23 billion in future military construction projects in Guam.

This includes the proposed construction of 178 accompanied housing units at the Andersen Airforce Base for the US Marine relocation from Okinawa but the Think Tank said these additional units, together with the 103 units approved in the previous year’s budget, are far short of the number required.

PCIS said, “Even with the new housing, the even larger expected increase in personnel will result in the on-base ‘unmet’ requirement increasing from 637 units in FY2023 to over 1750 units in FY2028.”

Plus with a delay in FY25 appropriations until at least March 2025, they note the proposed 178 units will be at least 6 months behind their scheduled completion in 2029.

The NDAA also includes concerning policy provisions like broadening the category of military-related personnel eligible for off-base housing to “all civilian dod employees in positions with critical shortages stationed in Guam.”

Previously, only Navy civilian employees being assigned to the ship repair attachment from Pearl Harbor were eligible.

PCIS added, “For all the military’s talk about housing in Guam being an issue, it has simply not made addressing the problem a funding priority.”

The group flagged ‘funding omissions’ in the NDAA for housing to support the planned enhanced air and missile defense system among other defense projects.

Meantime, as reported the first wave of marines have already begun relocating to Guam earlier this month to include some 100 logistics support marines.