A ground-based missile interceptor is lowered into its silo in 2007. The 800-acre Missile Defense Complex at Fort Greely, Alaska, is the largest anti-ballisitic missile site in the U.S. (Jack W. Carlson III/Department of Defense)
A remote Army base in Alaska that has a key role in intercepting incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles in the event of nuclear war says it is struggling to keep its dining facilities operating following an exodus of staff under the DOGE budget-slashing campaign.
Fort Greely, about 100 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska, is facing “a critical disruption in food service operations resulting from the government’s loss of essential civilian positions due to the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), retirements and the federal hiring freeze,” the Army wrote in its justification review document filed to allow for a waiver to requirements for a competitive bid contract. The solicitation and documents were posted on government websites.
The lack of staff as a result of the quasi-official Department of Government Efficiency campaign had led to reduced dining facility hours, “jeopardizing the readiness” of soldiers, the document said.
Fort Greely is home to the 49th Missile Defense Battalion, which operates the largest Ground-Based Midcourse Defense anti-ballistic missile system. Congress has authorized up to 40 interceptor missiles for Fort Greely. A fictionalized version of the base is featured in the nuclear doomsday film “A House of Dynamite” that recently made its debut on Netflix.
Because nighttime winter temperatures at times drop below -20 degrees, Fort Greely is also the site of the Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC), which measures the ability of military equipment to withstand extreme low temperatures.
“Without an operable dining facility, military and government workers will be denied accessibility to prepared meals on the installation,” the command said. “That will result in negatively impacting their physical and cognitive readiness and contribute to degraded performance during training and normal duty requirements.”
The addition of two cooks and five food service workers carries a projected cost of $750,000 per year, according to the Army document.
The Army is looking to speed the food services contract — the solicitation received a waiver from competitive bidding, meaning the first company that meets the Army’s criteria can be awarded the contract.
“Competition is not possible for this requirement due to the short timeline to procure the services needed to prevent mission failure to the government,” the statement said.
The Army said it had explored alternative ways to feed the roughly 350 troops at Fort Greely, including transferring staff from Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks to Fort Greely. As a temporary fix, the Army considered using MREs — “Meals Ready to Eat” — the field rations used by the U.S. military. The Army said it didn’t have enough MREs to support the switch.
