A new report has ignited controversy over taxpayer-funded embassy pools. The Biden administration’s State Department approved over $1.2 million for luxury pool renovations at U.S. embassies around the globe, even in war-torn regions.
The report came from Sen. Joni Ernst’s office. It exposes what she calls splashy spending at a time of global instability and domestic economic strain. The pool renovations occurred in countries like Iraq, Sudan, Haiti, and even Russia.
In Baghdad, the U.S. State Department awarded a staggering $444,000 to the embassy to upgrade its indoor pool dehumidification system. Officials launched the project on September 27, 2024, despite rising global tensions.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Consulate in Erbil approved over $10,000 for mechanical pool repairs. This allocation added to the growing list of embassy-related luxury renovations.
Furthermore, taxpayer-funded embassy pools extended beyond the Middle East. In 2021, the State Department authorized $24,000 for building a pool deck in Sudan. This happened even though the country was under a strict “Do Not Travel” advisory due to ongoing conflict and civil unrest. Eventually, in 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum suspended operations because of the worsening violence.
Even more surprisingly, the State Department directed $41,259 toward rehabilitating the swimming pool at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Officials finalized the contract after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. Specifically, the repair order covered the period from June 3 to August 15, 2022.
Sen. Ernst didn’t mince words. “The Biden State Department threw a blowout summer pool party on your dime,” she said. She added that Washington continues to toss taxpayers into the deep end with careless spending.
The controversy surrounding taxpayer-funded embassy pools builds on past scrutiny. During the Obama administration, critics slammed the federal government for spending large sums on artwork for overseas embassies.
According to the report, other renovations were approved in Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Indonesia. A $173,000 contract was awarded for work on the Jakarta embassy pool, though not all of the funds have been spent yet.
U.S. embassies receive funding from congressional appropriations to the State Department. However, watchdog groups say oversight has been lacking.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has responded with strong reforms. He recently announced the closure of USAID. According to Rubio, USAID failed to align with U.S. interests. Future foreign assistance programs will now operate directly under the State Department.
“The era of government-sanctioned inefficiency is over,” Rubio declared. He emphasized that American tax dollars should support strategic goals, not luxury perks. The Department of Government Efficiency continues to investigate federal agencies. Their mission: eliminate waste and corruption.
As more findings emerge, critics argue the money spent on taxpayer-funded embassy pools highlights a broader problem. Lavish overseas spending, even during global crises, reflects deep issues in federal budget priorities. Sen. Ernst says she will keep fighting the “deep end spending” that puts taxpayers last.
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