Headline Roundup • February 18th, 2025
$151M for Soldier Rations Supposedly Misallocated by the Army
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Roughly $151 million for soldiers' food was supposedly misallocated by the U.S. Army.
Key Details: According to a report from Military.com (Lean Left bias), millions of dollars collected for a food program by the Army were spent elsewhere. Less than half of the funds collected reportedly found their way to soldiers' plates; it is unclear what the additional funds are being spent on. The Army's nutrition policy is not always followed, and service members have reported unseasoned meals, undercooked meat, and a lack of fresh ingredients.
Key Quote: “It’s just returned to the big pool of army funds, and it’s used someplace else,” said one official. "The numbers suggest that a large portion of those funds are not going toward feeding soldiers, a diversion of resources coming at a time when troops increasingly struggle to find nutritious food on base," according to Military.com.
For Context: Each month, about $460 is deducted from the paychecks of service members who live in barracks, taken from their Basic Allowance for Subsistence payments. In November, food shortages were reported at Fort Carson, Colorado, by Military.com.
How the Media Covered it: Other than Military.com, AllSides didn't find any coverage of the story from left-rated outlets. Right-rated sources framed it as an example of government mismanagement and financial inefficiency.
Featured Coverage of this Story
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Millions of dollars collected by the United States Army for a food program were spent elsewhere — with less than half of the funds actually finding their way to soldiers’ plates, according to a report.
An investigative report from Military.com found that of the $225 million snatched up from junior enlisted soldiers as part of the Basic Allowance for Subsistence program, just $74 million went towards food.
“It’s just returned to the big pool of army funds, and it’s used someplace else,” an official told the outlet.
The money is collected in...
The Army is repurposing more than half of the money it collects from junior enlisted soldiers for food, according to data reviewed by Military.com. The numbers suggest that a large portion of those funds are not going toward feeding soldiers, a diversion of resources coming at a time when troops increasingly struggle to find nutritious food on base.
The money is collected in what amounts to a tax on troops -- taken from their Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) payments, roughly $460 per month that is automatically deducted from the paychecks of...
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The U.S. Army has redirected over $151 million collected from soldiers’ pay for food to its general fund, according to a Military.com report. Eleven major Army bases collected $225 million in Basic Allowance for Subsistence but spent only a fraction on food services.
Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, emphasized the need for an investigation, stating, “Stealing food money from our soldiers is not how we achieve military readiness.”
Service members reported dissatisfaction with meals, including undercooked meat and unhealthy menu options, leading to decreased participation in dining facilities.
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