Military Base Closures: Where Do We Stand?

This report provides information on the current status of U.S. military base closures and realignments. It includes data on domestic bases, including U.S. territories. The report also provides information on the costs and savings associated with implementation of domestic base closings and realignments, and examines current Pentagon efforts to persuade Congress to authorize two new rounds of military base closings. From 1976 to 1988, virtually no U.S. domestic bases were closed as a result of congressionally imposed restrictions. This situation changed radically in 1988, when the U.S. Congress passed legislation establishing the first of four independent base realignment and closure commissions BRAC. The four commissions activated in 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995 generated 499 recommendations for closing and realigning bases. Only 451 of these ultimately required action, primarily because 48 were changed in some manner by recommendations of a later commission.