Defense Budget

U.S. Air National Guard photo by MSGT Matt Hecht

Guidelines for a Better—and Necessary—Round of BRAC

Last updated 05:46 PM EDT • Read time: 1m

U.S. Air National Guard photo by MSGT Matt Hecht

Join the Conversation

Summary

President Trump’s 2018 budget request asked Congress to authorize a new round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Six years in a row, Congress denied that authorization. Despite Congress’s intransigence, the need for base closures and realignment is not going away. The Department of Defense has approximately 20 percent excess infrastructure, and the best way to reduce this excess capacity is through a new round of BRAC. This Backgrounder details BRAC successes, and what can be done better in the next round.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Congress should authorize BRAC to improve the DOD’s real estate management and reduce its 20 percent excess infrastructure. Rejecting it will only perpetuate waste.
BRAC is the best way to reduce the DOD’s excess infrastructure while increasing readiness for the future. Congress should reform the legislation and authorize it.
Congress and the DOD can work together to improve the shortcomings of previous rounds of BRAC. It starts with authorizing a new round.

Defense Budget

Guidelines for a Better—and Necessary—Round of BRAC

Summary

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Trump's Disrupt First, Negotiate Second: Greenland in Focus

In Seeking Peace With Beijing, Taipei Is an Asset, Not a Burden

Strike First: Israel's Inevitable Doctrine for the Iranian Axis

It’s Not President Trump but Thomas Friedman Who Should Be Ashamed

Putin, Plague, and America’s Biodefense Gap

U.S. and Japan Begin Naval Exercises Near Taiwan

U.S. and Japan Begin Naval Exercises Near Taiwan

U.S. Navy, Gecko Robotics Surge AI Maintenance Contract

Ghost Shark XL-AUV Payload Bay Seen For First Time

Dakota Meyer Tapped As Barracks Task Force Senior Advisor