Update: BBC will refund $, if guilty

U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee leaders on Nov. 20 demanded the Air Force investigate reports that Balfour Beatty – one of the major military privatized housing providers - falsified maintenance records for years at Lackland AFB, Texas, in order to gain millions in performance bonuses, according to a joint CBS-Reuters report. The report alleges that Balfour Beatty employees routinely doctored records. Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) “urge the Air Force and appropriate federal law enforcement agencies to investigate this fully so we can truly understand what is going on and how pervasive this problem is,” according to a statement from the two lawmakers. “If the Air Force substantiates allegations that Balfour Beatty perpetrated widespread, illegal fraud, the Air Force must take every action appropriate to hold Balfour Beatty accountable and recoup every last dollar stolen from the taxpayers,” the statement adds. Earlier this year, Reuters alleged that Balfour Beatty faked records at Tinker AFB, Okla., to make it appear more responsive to maintenance complaints. Balfour Beatty was also accused of falsifying maintenance reports at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. (Source: The Hill 11/20/19) Gulf Coast Note: Balfour Beatty’s military housing sites among bases of the Gulf Coast includes NAS Meridian and NCBC Gulfport, Miss.; and NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field and NSA Panama City, Fla. https://thehill.com/policy/defense/471384-senators-want-air-force-probe-into-allegations-military-housing-provider-faked UPDATE: On Dec. 5, Balfour Beatty Communities' (BBC) Rick Taylor told the House Armed Service Committee's readiness subcommittee that the firm promises to refund performance bonus money the company received from the AF, if an investigation finds that the landlord’s employees committed fraud. BBC has fired 17 employees this year for failing to comply with its code of conduct that included reports of falsified maintenance documents to earn extra money for its management of AF homes. (Source: AF Magazine 12/05/19)