WATCH: Rep. Vasquez Presses Secretary Hegseth to Lower Costs and Improve Quality of Life for Military Families

April 29, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers on the Department’s use of taxpayer funds, urging him to focus on lowering costs and raising quality of life for military families in New Mexico, rather than spending $25 billion dollars on the reckless war in Iran, which is about to hit its 60th day. The Congressman expressed concerns that the Pentagon received $1 trillion dollars last year through the FY2026 government funding bill, including increased funding to improve troops’ quality of life. But the Administration has not invested those funds back in New Mexico, with New Mexican service members still living in outdated, at-capacity barracks, sending their kids to aging schools and losing access to on-base childcare. Watch the full exchange here . Image Partial Hearing Transcript Below REP. VASQUEZ: This has gone on for far too long – let me give you another example. At Holloman Air Force Base, the child development centers on base have faced critical staffing issues for many years, and they just recently gave military families, our airmen and women, just nine days to find new childcare providers. One parent said she felt she had no choice but to resign from her job as a physician’s assistant when her son lost his spot in on base care. Another patient described his experience seeking health care at Cannon Air Force Base, saying, “Good luck. If you need specialized care, referrals take six months or more, and regular appointments are booking a month out.” And so spending $1 billion a day on a war overseas while leaving our service members out to dry is not America first – it's a betrayal. Secretary Hegseth, I voted for $1 trillion for the defense budget in committee last year, and I've yet to see the results come home. Service members back home have said nothing about progress or improvements underway. Within 30 days, Secretary, would you commit to sending me a detailed list of every dollar that is going to improve the quality of life at bases in my district? HEGSETH: We will get you whatever we can, but that doesn't meet with what we've seen, which is running as fast as this department ever has on quality of life issues. Because I've been in their shoes, I've seen those barracks, and I've seen them recently, and it may not have happened under this administration, but this Administration's going to fix it. Uh, and ultimately, this budget reflects that kind of priority. REP. VASQUEZ: I will just suggest that it needs to run faster. It needs to run at the speed of light. It needs to cross time travel. I don't care what it takes, but it's gone on for far too long. And so I appreciate your attention to this issue, but we have got to get it done and we cannot be here again next year, discussing the improvements that haven't been done despite what's in the budget today. And so let me be clear that these issues have persisted for years under both administrations. On both sides of the aisle, the department has received billions of taxpayer dollars as this committee has continued to work in a bipartisan fashion to support our troops and their families. And at a time when cost of living is the top issue for families, including those who serve, the Department is in the position to address these costs of housing, child care, groceries and other needs. I hope the Department chooses to do that. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Vasquez has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to supporting military servicemembers and their families in New Mexico. Rep. Vasquez helped pass the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), delivering vital investments in New Mexico’s military installations, service members, and national laboratories. He also passed his TRICARE Travel Improvement Act , which expands access to medical travel reimbursement for military families by lowering the mileage threshold under TRICARE Prime to 75 miles, helping families stationed at White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base who routinely drive up to 95 miles each way for care. He advocated for the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026 to ensure military personnel receive pay even if the government shuts down. Supported H.R. 5208 , a bill that would exclude Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) income from being counted toward determining a servicemember’s eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA). This legislation would give more servicemembers funding for their everyday basic needs including food, housing, and healthcare. ### Issues : Armed Services & National Security