Trump Calls Air Force Academy Chapel a ‘Construction Disaster,’ Demands Investigation as Costs Soar to $335M

President Trump is calling for a review of the escalating costs tied to renovations at the Air Force Academy’s iconic Cadet Chapel, according to The Hill. Describing the decades-old Colorado Springs landmark as a “CONSTRUCTION DISASTER from the time it was built in 1962,” the president criticized the project in a Truth Social post. “The earlier stories are that it leaked on Day One, and that was the good part,” Trump wrote. “Hundreds of Millions of Dollars have been spent.”

The ongoing renovation, which began in 2019, now carries a price tag of $335 million and is not expected to be completed until November 2028. In August, the Department of Defense awarded an $88 million contract for the latest phase of repairs to JE Dunn Construction Co., citing unexpected structural issues and design conflicts uncovered during the restoration.

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) said the funds are aimed at making the 150-foot-tall chapel watertight and structurally sound—challenges that have reportedly persisted since the building’s opening in 1962. During initial construction, 32 miles of caulk were used to save costs, but it “immediately failed,” according to the Gazette.

The chapel is renowned for its striking architecture and multi-faith mission, offering separate spaces for Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Buddhist services, as well as additional all-faith worship areas. Yet despite its acclaim, the building’s chronic leaks and maintenance issues have long been a source of frustration. Trump, unpersuaded by the chapel’s reputation, called the situation “Very unfair to the Cadets—a complete architectural catastrophe!”

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