	Introduction(1)

On November 15, 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld issued a memorandum tosenior staff regarding the implementation of the new base realignment and closure (BRAC) roundauthorized by Congress in 2001. Comprehensive Inventory

Second, the Secretary of Defense is required to conduct a comprehensive inventory of U.S.military installations. DOD Sends Report to Congress

On March 23, 2004, as part of the budget justification required by Congress each year, theSecretary of Defense submitted a detailed report on the need for a further BRAC round. He alsocertified that an additional round of closures and realignments would result in annual net savings foreach of the military departments, beginning not later than FY2011. (31) 
Two days later, on May 20, 2004, the full House voted 259 to 162 to delay base closings until2007. In response to this action, the White House immediately released a statement declaring thatthe Secretary of Defense, and other senior advisers, would urge the President to veto any bill thatweakened, delayed, or repealed the current base closure authority. (33) 
On October 8, 2004, Senate and House conferees reached agreement on the National DefenseAuthorization Act for FY2005, which included continued support of DOD's authority to conduct the2005 base closure and realignment round. These included (1) prohibiting anyrevision of DOD's force-structure plan or infrastructure inventory after March 15, 2005; (2) codifyingthe Secretary of Defense's criteria for selecting bases to be closed and realigned; (3) repealing theauthority of the Secretary of Defense to place installations in inactive status; and (4) prohibiting theCommission from changing the Secretary of Defense's selections -- unless at least two members ofthe Commission visit the installation involved, and at least seven members of the Commissionsupport the decision. The President selected Anthony A. Principi of California to be the chairman of the2005BRAC Commission. With its formal establishment, the BRAC Commission proceeded to conduct a series of local,D.C. -- area hearings to collect general information on DOD's force structure needs and goals for theBRAC process. It will also conduct regional hearings at locations throughout the country to provideaffected communities with the chance to express their views and concerns. At least onecommissioner, it has been said, will visit each base on DOD's designated list. Pentagon Delivers 2005 BRAC List

On May 13, 2005, the new BRAC Commission received DOD's list of base realignments andclosures. The Pentagon announced that it planned to close 33 major U.S. installations and realign 29 others -- in a move to consolidate forces and save almost $50 billion over 20 years.
On November 15, 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced the first steps inimplementing the new 2005 base realignment and closure (BRAC) law. These includeddevelopment of a force structure plan, comprehensive inventory of military installations, andestablishment of criteria for selecting bases for closure and realignment.
The Secretary of Defense submitted a report to Congress on March 23, 2004, confirming theneed for a further BRAC round and certifying that an additional round of closures and realignmentswould result in annual net savings, over a period ending no later than FY2011.
On May 20, 2004, the House of Representatives voted 259 to 162 to delay base closings until2007. In response to this action, the White House immediately released a statement declaring thatthe Secretary of Defense, and other senior advisers, would urge the President to veto any bill that"weakened, delayed, or repealed" the current base closure authority.
On October 8, 2004, Senate and the House conferees reached agreement on the NationalDefense Authorization Act for FY2005, which included continued support of DOD's authority toconduct a round of closures and realignments in 2005. Senator John Warner stated that it wasessential to allow DOD to complete its effort to reduce the size of its infrastructure.
On March 15, 2005, the President appointed nine members to serve on the 2005 BRACCommission. In doing so, he consulted with leading Members of Congress. In addition, thePresident chose Anthony A. Principi to serve as the chairman of the new BRAC Commission.
Once formally in-place, the Commission's next step was to institute a series of local, D.C.area hearings to collect general information on DOD's force structure needs and goals. It will befollowed later by regional hearings at locations throughout the country. At least one commissionerwill be required to visit each base on DOD's designated list.
On May 13, 2005, the Pentagon announced that it would close 33 major U.S. military basesand realign 29 others -- in a move to consolidate forces and save almost $50 billion over 20 years. The overall number of existing U.S. major bases, according to DOD, is 318. In addition, 775 smallerfacilities are expected to be closed or realigned.
This report will be updated as needed.