**GAO-11-131**                      Published: Feb 03, 2011. Publicly Released: Feb 22, 2011.                  

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## Highlights

In 2004, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced sweeping changes to restructure U.S. military presence overseas and reduce military posture in Europe. In August, 2010, the Secretary of Defense called for a review of DOD operations and activities to identify opportunities to decrease costs in order to free funds to support other DOD priorities. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs asked GAO to determine the extent to which the European Command (EUCOM) (1) estimates and reports the total cost of DOD's installations in Europe and (2) has defined methods for evaluating posture alternatives and including the views of interagency stakeholders in its posture planning process. To address these objectives, GAO assessed DOD plans and guidance, reviewed planning efforts in EUCOM, and collected obligations data from the military services for the military construction, family housing, and operation and maintenance appropriations.

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## Recommendations for Executive Action

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## GAO Contacts

John Pendleton
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## Topics

National Defense

Budget obligationsCost analysisDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningDefense cost controlDefense economic analysisEvaluation methodsForce structureFuture budget projectionsInteragency relationsMilitary facilitiesMilitary forcesMilitary operationsReporting requirementsStrategic planningCost estimatesOperations and maintenance costsStakeholder consultations