The Base Realignment and Closure process is an exercise by the federal government to determine the best use of its military installations. This includes both the closure and realignment of assets in an effort to increase efficiency within the Defense Department.

DoD's military construction budget appears safe from sequestration cuts

Funding reductions in 2013 appropriations act are sufficient to protect military construction accounts from further sequestration cuts, but funds used for upkeep on existing buildings are severely impacted.

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DoD's BRAC wish hitting brick wall on Capitol Hill

The Pentagon insists it is paying to maintain much more military base infrastructure than it needs, and the problem will only get worse as the Defense Department shrinks due to budget reductions. Congress, however, remains unsympathetic.

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Fannie and Freddie, March Madness lobbying, & BRAC

On this week's Capital Impact show, Bloomberg Government analysts discuss Fannie and Freddie underwriting practices, how much colleges and universities spend on lobbying, and how BRAC is changing the area around Fort Meade.
March 28, 2013

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Air Force meets fuel efficiency goal several years early

In 2006, the service aimed to cut its fuel use by 10 percent. By 2012, it had reduced consumption by 12 percent.

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House opposes new BRAC round

Lawmakers say they're opposed to more military base closings in the United States

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DoD cuts ribbon on centralized medical headquarters

Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday for the new Defense Health Headquarters in Virginia.

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Army under secretary: With or without sequestration, DoD will shrink

Army Under Secretary Joseph Westphal said if the automatic spending cuts known as sequestration go into effect, the impact to the Defense Department will be "devastating." At the same time, the DoD still must plan for cuts as tight budget continue and combat operations shrink.

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Panetta throws in the towel on 2013 base closures

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says it's now clear another round of BRAC isn't in the cards in the immediate future, but maintains it will be necessary to keep a "balanced force."

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BRAC cost 67 percent more than DoD's original estimates, GAO finds

The BRAC Commission of 2005 had estimated one- time costs would be $21 billion. The actual cost was $35.1 billion. In contrast, DoD spent $25 billion for the four previous BRAC rounds combined, GAO said.

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FAA promises to do more homework for future realignment decisions

Agency aims for better metrics to guide future facility closings, consolidations. The FAA has about two weeks to submit a report to Congress with recommendations to close facilities.

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Senator's opposition kills BRAC request

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), chairwoman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voiced her opposition Wednesday to the Defense Department's latest BRAC request, effectively killing the measure.

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DoD asks Congress for more BRAC

Department of Defense officials told Congress that if they can't close military bases, they'll have to take more money out of forces, training and modernization.

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Congress pushes back against another round of BRAC

DoD officials say as the number of troops shrink so should their real estate holdings. Lawmakers are wary about reducing troop and bases levels too much, and the expense of the Base Realignment and Closure process.

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Committee chair promises to spike new BRAC requests

Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, says he'll kill any request coming from the Pentagon for a new round of base closures.

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Air Force cuts personnel to meet revised mission

The Air Force expects to cut its end strength by roughly 10,000 under the new DoD strategy the Pentagon revealed last week. Also the Army's service chief indicated DoD plans to ask Congress for two more rounds of base realignments and closures.

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What's new with BRAC?

Dr. Andrea Morris, BRAC Coordinator for Arlington County in Virgina, talks about the impact of BRAC on local communities.
January 13, 2012(Encore presentation January 27, 2012)

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Federal buildings, old and new, go green

Treasury's building, DoD's Mark Center both get LEED Gold certification. Treasury expects to save $3.5 million by improving how the structures uses energy. DoD expects its new building to use 45 percent less water.

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Congress tries to put brakes on DoD's Mark Center move

Massive spending bill includes provisions that would cap parking at the controversial office site until DoD implements traffic mitigation measures recommended by the department's inspector general.

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Moran's objections to BRAC move confirmed in new DoD IG report

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) had objected the move that he said would further exacerbate traffic in the area. Now the Army's inspector general is issuing a report this week concluding the Army used flawed traffic data to make its case for locating workers to the current location along Interstate 395.

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House committee mulls federal property sales

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing on the best way to dispose of nearly 90,000 vacant or underutilized federal properties. While some lawmakers see property sales as a way to generate cash, it's not clear how much the properties are actually worth.

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