For Immediate Release:
May 14, 2025
Contact:
Gabe Murphy
gabe@taxpayer.net
Washington, D.C. – Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) today released a report titled, “Base Instincts: A Case for Base Realignments and Closures at Home and Abroad.” The report analyzes cost and savings data from previous Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) rounds, highlights cost drivers, evaluates economic impacts on communities that faced major closures during the 2005 BRAC, and calls for a new and improved BRAC round. It also advocates for realignments and closures of overseas bases. An accompanying fact sheet highlights the report’s key findings.
“It’s been twenty years since we’ve comprehensively addressed the Pentagon’s excess infrastructure,” said Steve Ellis, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. “There are about 2.7 billion reasons to take another look at this.”
The report finds that, even accounting for flaws in the Pentagon’s methodology, prior BRAC rounds are collectively saving taxpayers an estimated $13.8 billion per year (adjusted for inflation). It estimates that a new BRAC round would save taxpayers $2.7 billion annually, assuming savings are in line with historical averages.
“The Pentagon itself has said it has about 20 percent excess infrastructure,” continued Ellis. “Money spent maintaining that excess could be saved or spent on any number of real priorities instead.”
On the economic impacts of base closures, the report shows that counties facing major closures in the 2005 BRAC round saw unemployment rates decline in the decade following closure announcements—outperforming the change in the national average. These counties also experienced real growth in per capita personal income, though the national average rose by slightly more over the same period.
“The data shows that when communities rally around a solid redevelopment plan, they can seize the opportunities presented by base closures to actually strengthen their economies,” said Ellis. “That’s not to say it’s easy—but with proper planning and federal support, it’s achievable.”
“Ultimately, as the national security landscape shifts, the military needs to reconfigure its infrastructure to support evolving strategies,” Ellis added. “The BRAC process is the only fair and comprehensive mechanism we have. Congress may not enjoy it, but sooner or later they need to eat their vegetables. Sooner would be better.”
The report offers a series of recommendations for Congress to strengthen the BRAC process, including improving cost and savings estimates, addressing past cost drivers, and enhancing support for affected communities. It includes recommendations for communities based on past experiences and case studies included in the report. It also recommends that the administration pursue closures and realignments of unneeded overseas installations.
“Our service members, military communities, and taxpayers deserve a new and improved BRAC process that strengthens national security, improves local outcomes, and eliminates wasteful spending,” concluded Ellis.
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Taxpayers for Common Sense is a nonpartisan budget watchdog calling out wasteful spending and advocating for transparency.
