BRAC -- base closing; historical background

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Under the process, DoD proposed a list of bases for closure or realignment. A commission of 12 members – all appointed by then Secretary of Defense James Carlucci – reviewed the recommendations, and was permitted to add or delete bases. The commission’s recommendations were then forwarded to the president, who could also seek changes in the list. The president would then submit the list to Congress. If a disagreement arose between the president and the commission over the contents of the list, the president could halt the process by refusing to forward the recommendations to Congress.

Upon receiving the list, Congress had to pass a joint resolution of disproval within 45 days to block the closures. If Congress failed to act within that time, or either house did not pass the resolution, then the closures would automatically go in to effect. Congress had no power to change the list, and had to accept or reject it in its entirety.

The first base closure commission released its report on Dec. 29, 1988. It recommended the full closure of 86 bases, including 16 major facilities (defined as those with 300 or more civilian employees); the partial closure of five bases; and the realignment of 54 – a total of 145 impacted bases. The commission estimated that this would generate an annual savings of $693.6 million in reduced operating expenses and a 20-year savings of $5.6 billion (current dollars). The secretary of defense was required to complete all recommended actions by Sept. 30, 1995. Congress did not pass a resolution of disproval, and the first base – Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire – was closed on March 31, 1991.

After submitting its final report, the 1988 BRAC commission was disbanded.

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