For the first time in several years, the Pentagon’s portion of the President’s Budget Request does not explicitly ask Congress to approve a new round of base closures.

And this is the kind of thing that makes us go, “Hmmmm.” Why? Because the National Defense Strategy, released by the Pentagon less than a month ago, does make the case for base closure.

“The Department will also work to reduce excess property and infrastructure, providing Congress with options for a Base Realignment and Closure.”

Contrast this with a statement today from the Pentagon Comptroller, David Norquist, as reported by Politico. Rather than asking for a round of base closure, the Pentagon will instead look for ways to work with Congress, “to find common areas where we can make reforms and changes that don’t create the same types of obstacles.”

So what changed in the last three weeks?

At TCS we’re all for looking at base infrastructure as a way to realize efficiencies and reduce costs. We’ll be watching for these supposed “reforms and changes” which the Pentagon may prefer to pursue out of the limelight.

GO TO THE FY19 BUDGET LANDING PAGE.