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| Baghdad embassy pool under repair in 2025 |
The State Department approved more than $1.2 million in taxpayer money to fix or upgrade swimming pools at U.S. embassies and mission homes in seven countries. That total covers two projects in Haiti, five in Iraq, three in Sudan, one in Russia, one in Zimbabwe and one in Ghana .
In Baghdad, officials spent $444,000 just to replace the pool’s indoor dehumidification system. The contract began on Sept. 27, 2024, and covers only moisture control equipment for the existing pool .
At our embassy in Moscow, the government paid $41,259 in mid-2022 to fix a sewer pump serving its pool. That work came three months after Russia invaded Ukraine .
In Erbil, Iraq’s northern hub, staff billed taxpayers over $10,000 for mechanical repairs to their pool. In Khartoum, Sudan, the agency spent $24,000 in 2021 to install a new pool deck. That embassy closed in 2023 amid civil unrest .
A $173,000 award for a pool project in Jakarta remains unpaid as of July 2025 . In Harare, Zimbabwe, officials approved more than $130,000 to add pool covers to mission housing .
All those projects add up to just 0.002 percent of the State Department’s roughly $64 billion foreign operations budget for fiscal 2025 .
Those figures come from a July report by Sen. Joni Ernst’s office. She calls the spending “a blowout summer pool party on your dime.” She vows to work with the incoming Trump team to curb what she calls wasteful outlays .
State staff say pool upkeep falls under routine maintenance for secure compounds. They point out that pools need climate control and plumbing checks to avoid bigger failures. Those systems protect buildings and staff from mold or water damage.
Embassies carry high security standards. Pools sit within guarded perimeters. Moisture and leaks can damage walls, wiring or ventilation. Experts note a failed dehumidifier can spur mold that harms both health and electronics. Repairs often cost more if left too long.
In Baghdad, the indoor pool sits beneath offices and living quarters. A faulty dehumidifier there could rust steel supports and rot wood framing. Fixing it early can save much larger repair bills later.
Critics call those upgrades a luxury in nations facing crisis. Iraq still reels from years of conflict. Sudan endures armed clashes. Haiti and Zimbabwe face poverty and unrest. Opponents ask why pools get funding before food, security upgrades or basic services.
Supporters counter that embassy compounds serve as refuge for diplomats, aid workers and visitors. Pools offer respite in brutal heat. They also help wounded staff in rehab after local incidents. Pools play a role in morale and health.
The amount spent on pools remains small compared with other embassy costs. Baghdad’s fortress-like mission cost over $750 million to build . The $444,000 dehumidifier project represents just 0.06 percent of that.
Sen. Ernst’s broader push has already flagged billions of dollars in federal inefficiencies. Her office says it saved taxpayers billions through investigations into across‐the‐board waste.
Republican-led efficiency drives have targeted art spending at embassies under past administrations, awarding pricey sculptures or murals. Supporters of those programs say artwork aids diplomacy and showcases American culture abroad.
In April 2025, the administration proposed cuts that could close dozens of embassies and consulates to trim up to $26 billion in spending. Critics worry that would hollow U.S. influence in key nations.
Diplomats argue that keeping secure posts open in distant capitals remains vital to national interests. They say a well-maintained compound is a tool of soft power and crisis response.
At issue is balance. How much can officials spend on comforts while respecting tight budgets? Observers urge clear maintenance guidelines. They want routine checks to prevent emergencies, paired with strict review of nonessential projects.
Some suggest an independent inspector general review pool work orders over $50,000. Others call for public release of detailed cost breakdowns for all pool-related contracts. That could build trust and curb misperceptions.
The debate taps broader questions. Should diplomatic facilities match luxury hotels or lean function-first? Should morale and staff welfare drive budgets? Or must austerity prevail when missions work in poor and unstable zones?
Taxpayers face rising costs at home and abroad. Public opinion polls show little support for lavish upgrades while some U.S. cities cut school funding or close libraries .
Still, experts warn that deferred maintenance can multiply costs. A failed pool pump can flood kilowatts of infrastructure, damaging wiring or jam air handlers. Those damages can force total facility shutdowns for months.
In Baghdad, embassy staff say the pool’s moisture control had failed tests repeatedly. They flagged growing mold in locker rooms. They told supervisors a quick dehumidifier swap would restore safe air quality.
Lawmakers on both sides call for clearer standards. A few plans aim to classify pool decks and dehumidifiers as “mission-critical infrastructure,” subject to streamlined budgeting. Other items, like lounge chairs or exotic tile, would need extra approvals.
That approach could speed necessary safety fixes while blocking perceived luxuries. Some technology firms already offer remote monitoring of humidity and structural sensors. Those tools can trigger alerts when pools risk overflow or mold.
Introducing such sensors in every diplomatic post would add costs up front. Yet they can spot leaks in real time. They can avoid expensive mold remediation, which in worst cases forces evacuation of entire staff.
By comparing multiple embassies, analysts say most projects were basic. They replaced old pumps, covers and filters. They did not add new pools or lavish upgrades. Many orders ran below $50,000 each.
Only Baghdad’s dehumidifier rise above $100,000. That item alone used 37 percent of the total $1.2 million pool budget .
In the months ahead, Congress may hold hearings on embassy spending. Officials expect more scrutiny of post-COVID budgets and overseas safety measures.
Foreign service veterans note that embassy pools sometimes serve as water-therapy sites for injured troops or diplomats. Pools help rehabilitate strained muscles after local travel or hostile incidents.
They add that embassies in high-heat zones need pools to keep staff heat-stroke free during outdoor drills or inspections. Water therapy prevents heat exhaustion.
Still, senators like Ernst see optics problems. People at home see pool upgrades while basic services face cuts. That fuels perceptions of waste in Washington.
Officials say they will publish an itemized “facilities refresh” list later this year. It will detail all major work orders and justify each by safety, health or mission need.
That list should show a mix of pumps, roofs, HVAC systems and yes, some pool gear. Pool fixes will comprise a small slice. Yet they highlight tensions between comfort and cost.
Taxpayers may soon learn exactly how their dollars support embassy compounds. They can judge if a new dehumidifier counts as vital gear or summertime luxe.
What do you think? Should embassy pools get routine fixes using taxpayer funds? Or should those upgrades wait until core needs come first? Share your view below.