Legislators concerned by potential shortfalls in base closure funding
The Army and the Air Force could come up short billions of dollars by the 2011 cutoff for carrying out BRAC recommendations.
Congressional appropriators expressed concern Wednesday that there will be a lack of funding for the military services to implement recommendations reached through the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process.
Successful implementation will require a hefty financial commitment, but fiscal pressures could reduce the funding available, said Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Appropriations Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, at a hearing.
Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, ranking member of the subcommittee, said he is concerned that the real BRAC costs will be significantly higher than originally estimated.
Implementation of the 182 base closure and realignment recommendations made by a nine-member panel is expected to save the military $4.2 billion annually, but an estimated $21 billion is needed for the effort, most of which will go toward construction. The Defense Department is budgeting $18.3 billion.
All BRAC recommendations, which include closing 22 major military facilities and realigning another 33, must by law be carried out by September 2011. Fiscal 2006 appropriations for BRAC totaled $1.5 billion, and the Pentagon has requested $5.6 billion for fiscal 2007.
The Navy has financed its BRAC implementation fully and in fiscal 2010 the savings from its effort are expected to exceed the costs, said B.J. Penn, assistant Navy secretary for installations and environment.
Both Army and the Air Force officials told lawmakers that their budget needs were met in fiscal 2006 appropriations and in the fiscal 2007 budget request.
But looking out through fiscal 2011, the Army projects a shortfall of $6 billion to $8 billion in funds necessary to carry out the BRAC recommendations and implement plans to make units smaller and more flexible, said Keith Eastin, assistant Army secretary for installations and environment, in testimony.
The Air Force projects a shortfall of nearly $2 billion for BRAC implementation through fiscal 2011, said William Anderson, Air Force assistant secretary for installations, environment and logistics.