BRAC
Background
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is the process by which
the nation reshapes its installation capacity to become more
efficient and effective in supporting its forces. The Secretary
of Defense makes recommendations for reorganizing existing
missions and functions among bases, and for closing other
bases. An independent commission (the BRAC Commission), appointed
by the President in consultation with Congressional leaders,
has the authority to change the Department's recommendations.
The Commission will hold regional meetings to solicit public
input prior to making its recommendations. The intention of
using an independent commission, and of conducting public
meetings, is to make the process as open and fair as possible.
The Commission forwards its recommendations to the President
for review and approval, who then forwards the recommendations
to Congress. Congress must approve the Commission’s
recommendations on an all-or-none basis.
The Department of Defense conducted BRAC rounds in 1988,
1991, 1993, and 1995. The previous BRAC rounds resulted in
the closure of 97 major bases, the realignment of 55 major
bases, and the closure or realignment of 235 minor bases across
the United States. The Department of Defense claims a net
savings of $17 billion through 2001 and a recurring savings
after FY 2001 of $7 billion annually.
BRAC 2005
Congress authorized a fifth BRAC round for 2005 (Public Law
101-510 as amended) in the National Defense Authorization
Act of FY 2002 (Public Law 107-107). Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld stated that this BRAC round will reconfigure
forces and installations to meet new and emerging threats
and capitalize on emerging technologies; emphasize jointness
in military operations and training; and eliminate excess
capacity to emphasize transformation and provide more assets
in the field. The Department of Defense believes that the
next round of BRAC will better match the military’s
installations with its forces, help the military meet the
changing threats of the 21st century, and make the wisest
decisions with limited defense dollars.
In March 2004, the Department of Defense released a Congressionally-mandated
document, the Force Structure Plan, which estimates a 24 percent
excess installation capacity. According to the plan, the Army
has 29 percent excess installation capacity, the Navy 21 percent,
the Air Force 24 percent, and the Defense Logistics Agency
17 percent. Many critics predict the BRAC 2005 round will
close or realign as many bases as the previous four BRAC rounds
combined.
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