By Larry Jones
May 23, 2005

BRAC Timeline May 13, 2005 Department of Defense submits base closure and realignment recommendations to BRAC. September 8, 2205 BRAC will forward its report on DOD's recommendations to the President. September 23, 2005 The President will have until September 23 to accept or reject BRAC's final recommendations in their entirety. 45 Legislative Days If the President accepts the recommendations, Congress will have 45 legislative days to reject the recommendations in their entirety or they will become binding on DOD.

The Department of Defense (DOD) recommended May 13 the closing of 33 major bases (defined as those that would cost $100 million or more to replace if rebuilt today) and realigning 29 others as a part of a comprehensive plan to reshape the nation's military infrastructure. The DOD has also recommended closing and realigning 775 minor military installations. To accommodate civilian and military personnel at these facilities, DOD has recommended moving many of them to 49 other bases that will see their workforces increased by 400 or more. If all goes according to plan, DOD hopes to save the federal government $50 billion over the next twenty years.

Fourteen major Army bases are recommended for closures, including Fort Gillem and McPherson in Atlanta. Nine major Navy bases are recommended for closures including the Submarine Base in New London (CT) and the Naval Air Station in Atlanta. Ten major Air Force installations are recommended for closures including Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota and the Brook City Base in Texas.

The twenty-nine recommendations for major realignment (defined as installations losing 400 or more people) include the Army Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington (DC), the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, the Naval Station in San Diego, and Naval Air Stations in Brunswick (ME), Corpus Christi (TX) and Pensacola (FL).

Many local communities will be affected if the recommended base closings and realignment are approved. For some it will mean a significant blow to the local economy. The closing of the Naval Air Station in New London (CT) will eliminate 8,048 jobs; and the closing of Fort McPherson, Fort Gillem and the Naval Air Station in Atlanta will eliminate a total of 6,652 jobs.

Under DOD's recommendations, a number of military bases in suburban areas will receive significant increases as civilian and military personnel are moved to accommodate the closings. Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County (VA) will see its workforce increased by 18,000 and Fort Meade in Ann Arundel (MD) will see an increase of 5,361.

Patrick O-Brien, director of the Office of Economic Adjustment in the Department of Defense said the agency stands ready to assist local communities affected by the closures and realignment.

The DOD recommendations have been formally submitted to the nine-member Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), which will review the recommendations and make the final decisions. The Commission plans to visit all of the 33 major bases that have been recommended for closures and conduct regional hearings before a final decision in September.