Pentagon Releases New Base Closure Plan
NEWS FROM THE CENTER FOR ARMS CONTROL AND NON-PROLIFERATION
For immediate release — Friday, May 13, 2005
Contact: Christopher Hellman, (202) 546-0795, ext. 197
Washington D.C. – The list released today by the Pentagon of proposed military base closures contains some significant changes from the current basing structure, but few surprises, according to the Center’s base closing expert, Christopher Hellman.
“Rather than including large numbers of major closures, the Defense Department’s recommendations focus on consolidating smaller facilities and realigning existing missions,” said Hellman, who has followed the base closure issue since the 1980’s, both as an independent analyst and a congressional staffer. While some observers had predicted that the 2005 BRAC round would be the “mother of all base closures,” the Pentagon is recommending the closure of 33 major installations. Hellman noted, “the number of major closures recommended by the Pentagon is in line with previous rounds.”
Hellman also noted that many more small installations were targeted for closure, the majority of which are National Guard and Reserve facilities. “The military wants to close roughl 150 minor facilities, nearly three-quarters of which belong to the Guard and Reserve,” Hellman said. “This would indicate a desire on the part of the Pentagon to better integrate these units into the active force.”
The list also reflects the shifting emphasis of U.S. national security interests away from its historical focus on Europe and the Soviet Union and towards the Pacific region and supporting the global war on terrorism. “We’re seeing a geographic reorientation away from Europe towards Asia,” said Hellman, “and an increased focus on integrating our forces and improving our deployment capabilities so we can better to respond to emerging threats around the globe.”
Today’s announcement by the Pentagon is the first major step towards closing the proposed bases. The list now goes to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission for its review. The Commission has until September 8 to consider the Defense Department’s proposal, and then make its own recommendation to the President. According to Hellman, past BRAC commissions have generally followed the Pentagon’s lead. “In looking at previous BRAC rounds, we see that the Commission’s list reflects the Defense Department’s recommendations about eighty percent of the time.”
When the Commission does alter the Pentagon’s list, it generally does so by removing bases rather than adding them, a trend the Hellman expects will continue. “Congress has made it more difficult for the Commission to add bases to the list,” said Hellman. “Removing a base from the list requires the support of five of the nine commissioners. But adding a base needs a ‘super majority’ of seven of nine votes.” And getting a base off the list is still difficult. “Just because you only need a ‘simple’ majority, doesn’t mean it will be easy,” said Hellman.