Blumenthal-led Provision to Strengthen Health & Safety Standards for Military Housing Included in Committee-passed NDAA

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Armed Services Committee, today announced that the Committee-approved National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027 includes a major legislative provision to protect military families from hazardous living conditions in privatized housing. The provision, championed by Blumenthal, is based on the Senator’s Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act . Thousands of military families face hazardous conditions in privatized housing , including prolonged mold exposure, which is associated with heightened risk of respiratory illnesses, neurological symptoms, developmental delays in children, and other severe health effects. In fact, a recent survey from Change the Air Foundation found that 97 percent of respondents reported at least one major habitability issue in their military-provided home, with mold cited as the most prevalent problem. The MOLD Act addresses these safety issues by setting enforceable health and safety standards, mandating independent inspections, and requiring transparency in reporting habitability issues such as water damage, humidity, and mold. “I am proud to have advanced sweeping reforms to confront toxic mold and unsafe conditions in military housing,” said Blumenthal. “It is shameful that thousands of military families live in homes with mold, asbestos, and water damage—hazards that put their health and safety at risk. At my urging, the Senate’s NDAA imposes enforceable standards, independent inspections, and stronger accountability measures to safeguard the health and readiness of servicemembers and their families. Our nation’s military families deserve the gold standard, nothing less.” The MOLD Act is endorsed by Change the Air Foundation, Blue Star Families, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Safe Military Housing Initiative, Military Housing Coalition, National Military Families Association, Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and the National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors (NORMI). Text of the MOLD Act provision included in the NDAA for FY27 is available here . -30-