【US officials flock to "Trump Green Zone" military base】

According to The New York Times, after a general who was promoted to vice chief of staff chose to remain at another base, Hedges claimed to have a residence in Building 8 at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.

A Department of Defense official told The New York Times that Hedges pays $4,655.70 per month and enjoys the benefit of living in a military base just a few miles from the Pentagon.

He is one of several high-ranking White House officials from the Trump administration who reside in military bases. The Atlantic found that at least six senior officials from the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, live in properties usually reserved for senior officers in Washington, D.C.

It is believed that Miller moved into military housing, following his wife, Katie Miller, a podcast host who worked as a White House assistant, who said she was confronted face-to-face at her home in Arlington.

Katie Miller, a former White House advisor and mother of three children, and wife of President's close aide Stephen Miller, encountered an unfamiliar woman on a Thursday morning last month when she stepped out of her house. She described the incident as an overstepping protest on Fox News. She said the stranger told Miller, "I'm watching you." This incident occurred the day after Charlie Kirk was assassinated. But it's not anything new.

The New York Times pointed out that although senior cabinet members have previously lived in military housing, it is "unusual" for so many people to move into military dormitories in such a short period of time.

Previous residents of Building 8 believe that the trend of officers no longer living in military bases may make it harder for admirals and generals stationed in the area to find affordable housing.

Building 8 is located in the middle of 15 military housing buildings, which are typically allocated to three-star generals in the Army's senior staff at the Pentagon.

Soon after assuming the role of Secretary of State, Rubio moved into his military housing, just a few steps away from Hedges' residence. However, according to The New York Times, a State Department official said that Rubio's family has not yet joined him and remains in Florida.

Noem, who is nicknamed "Snowy Barbie" for her penchant for wearing uniforms in public appearances, has been living in the Coast Guard Commander's Residence at the Anacostia-Bolling Joint Base in Washington, D.C., for several months.

After her residence in Washington, D.C. was posted online by The Daily Mail, she claimed she received threats and subsequently moved into a house usually occupied by senior Coast Guard officials. Previously, it was reported that Noem was living there for free, but a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The New York Times that Noem's new residence was "reasonably priced."

An unnamed senior White House official also moved into military housing upon the urging of security officials after the killing of Charlie Kirk.

There have been examples of cabinet members living in military bases in previous administrations. Defense Secretaries Robert Gates during the Bush and Obama administrations, and Jim Mattis, the first Pentagon chief under Trump, lived in houses in the Potomac Heights naval base complex, which is located near the State Department and has tight security. CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during Trump's first term lived at the Meade-Henderson Joint Base. Some of these luxurious homes have a history of more than a century, providing additional security for officials and ample space for official entertaining activities.

However, never before have so many political appointees lived within military facilities. This shift further blurs the traditional boundaries between civilian and military fields. Trump has made the military play a more important role in domestic politics, deploying the National Guard to cities governed by Democrats, such as Washington, Los Angeles, and others. He ordered these cities to be used as "training grounds" for combating "internal enemies."

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847543923673482/

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