McCain: BRAC ‘cowardice’

U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) is considering starting discussion on a sixth round of base closures, which is likely to be a major talking point in the FY 2018 defense budget debate this coming spring. McCain claims the Congress’ rejection of previous calls for BRAC as “cowardice” and a threat to military readiness. Possible discussions about BRAC would be a shift on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have been adamantly opposed to closing bases in their districts. DOD has estimated that the five previous base closings since 1990 have saved taxpayers at least $12 billion annually. Lawmakers have prohibited DOD from even planning for future base closing plans largely in response to BRAC 2005, which saw minimal fiscal return. McCain hinted that future BRACs may not depend on an independent commission as it has been done in the past. (Source: Military Times 01/24/17) Gulf Coast Note: Past BRACs have shuttered Pensacola, Fla.’s Naval Aviation Depot, naval stations Mobile, Ala., and Pascagoula, Miss.; and moved the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory from Pensacola to Ohio.