Introduction
In 2025, a big government contract made news. It was a $18 million-per-month deal to run a shelter for migrant kids in Pecos, Texas. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, stopped this contract in March 2025. Why? The shelter was empty, but it still cost taxpayers lots of money. This article explains the timeline, facts, and documents in very easy English. It answers your questions clearly. Written by Teresa Domingo, a writer with four years of experience, this article uses trusted sources to be accurate and honest.
What Was the DOGE HHS Migrant Housing Contract?
The contract was between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a nonprofit called Family Endeavors. They are based in San Antonio, Texas. The contract started in 2021 to provide a safe place for migrant kids who came to the U.S. without parents. The place was called the Pecos Children’s Center. It was a former camp for oil workers. It could hold up to 3,000 kids. HHS paid Family Endeavors $18 million every month to keep the shelter ready, even when no kids were there. DOGE ended this contract in 2025 to save money. This decision caused a lot of talk about how the government spends money and cares for migrant kids.
Why Was This Contract Important?
This contract was a big deal for a few reasons. It showed how the government uses taxpayer money. It also made people wonder if the contract was fair. Many asked why a nonprofit got such a big deal without others competing for it. When DOGE stopped the contract, it showed they wanted to stop wasting money. But some worried it might hurt migrant kids if more come in the future. This article explains both sides in simple words.
Timeline of the Contract
This contract story happened over a few years. Here is a simple timeline of what happened, based on trusted sources.
2021: The Contract Starts
- March 2021: HHS gives Family Endeavors a contract without other groups competing. This is called a “sole-source” contract. The Pecos Children’s Center opens fast to house migrant kids during a big border rush. The contract pays $18 million per month.
- Why No Competition?: Many kids came to the border without parents. Existing shelters were full. HHS used emergency rules to give the contract quickly to Family Endeavors.
- Who Helped?: A person who worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and helped the Biden team in 2021 joined Family Endeavors. They helped get the contract.
2022–2023: The Shelter Works, Then Slows Down
- 2022: The Pecos shelter grows to hold up to 2,000 kids. It helps 40,000 kids from March 2021 to February 2024. But some say the shelter is too crowded and not good enough for kids.
- 2023: More kids come to the border than ever before. But by late 2023, the Pecos shelter has very few kids. It’s less than 10% full. HHS still pays $18 million every month to keep it ready.
2024: The Shelter Is Empty
- March 2024: The Pecos Children’s Center is almost empty. Very few kids stay there. Across the country, shelters for migrant kids are less than 20% full. HHS keeps paying Family Endeavors $18 million a month to be ready for emergencies.
- What People Said: People see the empty shelter. Posts on X call it a waste of money. They note Family Endeavors’ money grew from $8.3 million in 2020 to $520.4 million in 2023, mostly from government contracts.
2025: DOGE Ends the Contract
- January 2025: DOGE starts checking government contracts. They want to stop wasting money. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy lead DOGE.
- February 2025: DOGE finds the Pecos contract. They post on X that HHS pays $18 million a month for an empty shelter. They mention the former ICE worker who helped Family Endeavors.
- March 8, 2025: HHS, following DOGE’s advice, stops the contract. DOGE says this saves taxpayers $215 million a year. Some reports say savings might be $153 million, depending on the contract’s end date.
- April 2025: Family Endeavors responds. They say they followed HHS rules to keep the shelter ready. They call claims of bad management “not true.”
Key Facts About the Pecos Deal
Here are the main points about the contract, explained in simple words.
- Who Got the Money: Family Endeavors, a nonprofit in San Antonio, Texas, started in 1969. They help homeless veterans, disaster victims, and migrants.
- What It Was For: To run the Pecos Children’s Center, a shelter for migrant kids. It had classrooms, medical rooms, and spaces for legal help.
- How Much It Cost: $18 million every month, over $200 million a year. The contract was worth $530 million in 2021.
- How It Was Given: A sole-source contract, meaning no other groups could try for it. This was allowed because of an emergency with many migrant kids.
- How Many Kids Stayed: It helped 40,000 kids from 2021 to 2024. By March 2024, it was almost empty. National shelters were less than 20% full.
- Why It Ended: DOGE and HHS stopped it in March 2025 to save about $215 million a year.
- Why People Argued: Some said it wasted money. Others said it was needed to be ready for more kids. There were also questions about fairness and a former ICE worker’s role.
Documents You Can Check
Finding the exact contract papers is tough because they’re not always public. But here are key records and where to find them, in simple terms.
- HHS Contract Records: The 2021 contract was a sole-source deal with Family Endeavors, managed by the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). You can look at federal spending records on usaspending.gov to see HHS contracts.
- DOGE’s Post: On February 26, 2025, DOGE posted on X about the contract. They said it cost $18 million a month for an empty shelter and noted the former ICE worker’s role.
- Family Endeavors’ Response: In March 2025, Family Endeavors told News 4 San Antonio they kept the shelter ready as HHS asked. They said costs covered staff, security, and upkeep.
- DOJ Investigation: On February 26, 2025, U.S. Attorney Ed Martin said they would investigate the no-bid contract. This was posted on X after DOGE’s post.
- News Stories: Articles from ABC Money, The Washington Post, and Fox News give details. You can find them online for more information.
To see these documents, go to usaspending.gov for contract data or check X for DOGE’s posts. News sites like ABC Money and The Gateway Pundit also have stories you can read.
Why Did People Argue About the Contract?
This contract caused a lot of talk. Here’s why, in simple words.
Paying for an Empty Shelter
The biggest problem was the $18 million each month for a shelter with no kids. By 2024, fewer kids came to the border, and the shelter was empty. DOGE said this wasted taxpayer money. They estimated stopping the contract saved $215 million a year.
No Competition for the Contract
HHS gave the contract to Family Endeavors without letting others try for it. They used emergency rules because many kids needed help fast in 2021. Some said this wasn’t fair. They wondered if other groups could have done it better or cheaper. The former ICE worker who joined Family Endeavors made people question if the deal was honest.
Family Endeavors Got Rich
Family Endeavors’ money grew a lot. In 2020, they had $8.3 million. By 2023, they had $520.4 million, mostly from government contracts. Some asked if they were ready to run such a big shelter. Others said their work with veterans and disasters made them a good choice.
What About Migrant Kids?
Some worried that ending the contract could hurt kids. The Pecos shelter was ready for emergencies, like if many kids came again. Family Endeavors said they kept it ready as HHS asked. Immigration supporters said closing it might mean the U.S. isn’t ready for more kids.
Different Opinions
People had strong feelings:
- Republicans: Liked DOGE’s move to save money.
- Democrats: Said closing shelters might cause problems if more kids come.
- Immigration Supporters: Thought DOGE was making a human issue political.
- Family Endeavors: Said they did nothing wrong and focused on helping kids.
What Did DOGE Do?
DOGE started in 2025 to make the government work better. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy lead it. They check contracts and stop waste. The Pecos contract was a big focus. Here’s what they did:
- Checked Contracts: Looked at HHS spending and found the Pecos deal wasteful.
- Told People: Posted on X about the $18 million monthly cost for an empty shelter.
- Stopped the Contract: Worked with HHS to end it in March 2025.
- Saved Money: Ended $175 billion in contracts across agencies, including Pecos.
Elon Musk posted on X, calling it a “win against government waste.” This showed DOGE’s goal to be open and save money.
Family Endeavors’ Side
Family Endeavors said they did their job right. They explained that HHS told them to keep the shelter ready at all times. This meant paying for staff, security, lights, and food, even with no kids. They called this “cold status.” It’s normal for emergency shelters. From 2021 to 2024, they helped 40,000 kids. They said claims of bad work were “not true.”
What Was the Pecos Shelter Like?
The Pecos shelter had mixed reviews. From 2021 to 2023, it housed many kids. Some said it wasn’t good:
Family Endeavors said they followed HHS rules. Government workers checked the shelter every day. It had medical care, classes, and activities for kids. By 2024, it was empty, which led to DOGE’s review.
How Does Pecos Compare to Other Shelters?
The Pecos shelter wasn’t the only one. Other HHS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shelters existed:
- Dimmit County, Texas: An HHS shelter costing $14.6 million a month, also empty in 2024.
- CBP Camps: Temporary camps for adults cost $5–30 million a month. Most closed in 2025, except in El Paso and San Diego.
- Other Companies: Deployed Resources LLC has contracts up to $4.1 billion for CBP and HHS shelters.
Pecos got attention because of its high cost and no-bid deal. DOGE made it a big example of waste.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
Ending the Pecos contract could change how the U.S. handles migrant shelters. Here are possible changes:
- Better Checks: DOGE’s work might mean more open bidding and fairness in contracts.
- Fewer Shelters: Closing places like Pecos could make it hard if many kids come again.
- Policy Changes: Focusing on saving money might put costs before helping kids, causing arguments.
- Investigations: The DOJ is checking the no-bid process. This could show how contracts are given.
Conclusion
The DOGE HHS migrant housing contract paid $18 million a month for the Pecos Children’s Center. It helped thousands of kids from 2021 to 2024 but was empty by 2024. DOGE and HHS ended it in March 2025, saving about $215 million a year. People argued about waste, fairness, and caring for kids. This article used easy English to explain the timeline, facts, and documents. Check usaspending.gov or DOGE’s X posts for more. Have questions? Share them below!
Disclaimer: This article uses verified public records and trusted sources as of August 30, 2025. It is not legal advice or an official government statement. It does not endorse any group or policy. All facts are checked, and unverified claims are clearly marked.
Explore More:
Echostreamhub — 2025 Ultimate Review & Guide
Teresa Domingo is a talented content writer with 4 years of experience. She loves creating all kinds of content, from articles to blogs, in a clear and simple way. Teresa’s writing is easy to read and connects with people. She enjoys sharing ideas and stories that everyone can understand.
