On Monday, NASA announced it is targeting Thursday, February 19th, for the next wet dress rehearsal (WDR) for Artemis II, a key step in validating SLS for its crewed launch to the Moon. Prime Artemis contractor Amentum plays a significant role in the test and launch operations supporting the mission, but what isn’t widely reported is that the NASA contractor is also operating one of the largest ICE detention camps in the country.
Amentum, a government services contractor, is responsible for operations at Camp East Montana, the controversial immigrant detention camp at Fort Bliss in Texas. Camp East Montana has been under intense scrutiny since the time the Trump administration announced plans to build the camp, with increased criticism in recent days following reports of inhumane treatment, torture, and detainee deaths.
Formed in early 2020, Amentum Holdings Inc. is currently one of the largest U.S. government contract holders. But that status was only achieved once Amentum merged with the Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber Intelligence division of Jacobs in late 2024. Just two months later, Amentum would begin stacking and assembling the SLS rocket that is currently on the launchpad, awaiting a second WDR.
At the time of the merger, Jacobs was NASA’s largest services contractor and the prime contractor for NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program at NASA KSC, supporting the Artemis I mission through spacecraft recovery. Additional Jacobs’ responsibilities during Artemis I included supporting SLS and Orion spacecraft development, testing, assembly, checkout, transportation to the pad, launch support, and Orion recovery- in addition to other NASA contracts spread across several centers.
Once the merger was complete, Amentum became the prime Artemis contractor at NASA KSC and assumed operations of Artemis II and future Artemis missions.
Last year, the Trump administration announced plans to build immigrant detention centers in support of increased immigration enforcement measures. Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss military Base in Texas was among the first confirmed sites and was immediately controversial because of its location on an active military base, and reports that it was to be a tent encampment.
In July of 2025, reporting indicated the $1.26 billion contract to build and operate Camp East Montana went to Acquisition Logistics Company, a previously unknown firm in the detention industry. In fact, immigrant advocacy groups and industry insiders raised concerns about the firm’s experience and ability to fulfill the contract and meet federal standards for facilities meant to house people.
When the 5,000-bed facility opened just a month later, on August 18th, 2025, Amentum was named as one of the subcontractors, responsible for operations at the ICE detention camp. A day later, on the 19th, the Artemis II Orion stage adapter arrived at KSC for CubeSat integration before transfer to the VAB for stacking by Amentum teams. By then, NASA already begun processing the third SLS rocket for the Artemis III mission in the VAB.
As soon as Camp East Montana began receiving detainees, reports about the conditions and unfinished state of the camp began trickling out. A widely cited article from the Washington Post detailed the conditions in the camp, citing almost 60 federal standard violations for immigration detention, which included several facility operation issues that led to detainees being held without some of their basic human needs met.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security followed up with a press release of its own to address the violations named in the article. But allegations of deplorable living conditions related to the manner in which the facility is operated have continued to be reported to this day. More troubling are allegations of abuse and torture at the hands of guards that have come to light, including the death of a third detainee.
It’s unclear whether NASA is aware of Amentum’s role in Camp East Montana operations or their opinion of Amentum’s operational performance at the camp. At the time of publishing, Amentum hadn’t responded to a request for comment, and a NASA representative directed me to the Artemis II press kit.
If NASA approves the second WDR for SLS on Thursday, teams at Kennedy Space Center will begin the call to station operations later today.
