The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process is designed to trim excess domestic military base infrastructure, which the Department of Defense (DoD) estimates is 25% too large and costs billions of dollars per year. The DoD budget office says that prior BRAC rounds have resulted in annual savings of some $6.6 billion per year.

According to Secretary Rumsfeld, this BRAC round will serve the multiple purposes of cutting unneeded infrastructure and costs; matching infrastructure to strategic military goals; and reconfiguring a base and facility infrastructure that will no longer allow each military branch to maintain exclusive facilities and missions. This final change in BRAC philosophy could have a significant impact on facilities operated by one branch that have a parallel facility serving an identical or substantially similar function for another branch.

The formal BRAC will begin in March 2005, when the President, in consultation with Congressional leaders, will appoint the nine-member BRAC commission. Two months later, the Secretary of Defense will submit his list of facilities to be closed or realigned.

Of course BRAC has already begun, with the Secretary of Defense submitting base closing and realignment criteria to Congress as part of the FY 2004 budget process. The Secretary also has shared what he sees as the future force-structure for the Armed Forces, anticipating the places our military will fight, the types of enemies it will encounter and the types of personnel, weapons and support it will require to fight and win wars. Along with the Force-Structure Plan, the Secretary must submit an Infrastructure Inventory that will attempt to match up bases and other facilities with future needs.

Where the Secretary believes there is more infrastructure than necessary to serve the military mission, or if that infrastructure is poorly configured, he can recommend that bases be closed altogether, or that personnel and equipment be reassigned. The Secretary is obliged to consider the consequences to local economies should bases be closed or their missions shrunk. He also must estimate how much money closure or realignment will actually save the military going forward.

Once the Secretary actually submits his list of facilities to the BRAC Commission, it will take seven of the nine members to add a facility to the closure/realignment list, but only a simple majority of members to remove a facility. The President must approve the final list and send it to Congress, or reject it and send it back to the Commission. Neither Congress nor the President may make changes to the list. Once the President approves the list, Congress has 45 days to reject it in whole, or it becomes law automatically.

BRAC Timetable

Dec 31, 03
The Secretary of Defense proposes Selection Criteria to be used in evaluating bases for closure or realignment. The Secretary submits these Draft Selection Criteria to Congress and publishes them in the Federal Register.

Feb 04
As part of his FY 2005 budget request, the Secretary of Defense completes a “Force Structure Plan” and a military-wide “Infrastructure Inventory” and submits them to Congress. The purpose of these documents is to match force requirements with facilities, determine if excess facilities exist, and evaluate the economic impact of closure.

Feb 16, 04
After taking into account public comment, the Secretary publishes the final Selection Criteria in the Federal Register.

Mar 15, 04
Deadline by which Congress must act if it disagrees with the Selection Criteria.

Apr 04
Comptroller General must have completed his evaluation of the “Force Structure Plan” and “Infrastructure Inventory” and submitted additional recommendations, if any.

Feb 05
If the Secretary has revisions to the “Force-Structure Plan” or the “Infrastructure Inventory”, he must have submitted them to Congress as part of the FY 2006 budget request.

Mar 15, 05
The President submits his list of BRAC Commission nominees to the Senate.

May 16, 05
The Secretary must submit his list of bases for closure or realignment to Congress and publish the list in the Federal Register.

Jul 1, 05
Comptroller General must submit his detailed analysis of the closure and realignment list to Congress.

Sep 8, 05
BRAC Commission reports its recommendations to the President.

Sep 23, 05
The President must report to Congress and the Commission whether he approves or disapproves of the Commission’s recommendations. If the President approves, the report is binding in 45 days unless Congress passes a resolution of disapproval.

Oct 20, 05
If the President disapproves of the Commission’s report of September 23, the Commission must submit revised recommendations.

Nov 7, 05
The President must report to Congress and the Commission whether he approves or disapproves of the Commission’s revised recommendations. If the President approves, the report is binding after 45 days unless Congress passes a resolution of disapproval.

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