**GAO-08-159**                      Published: Dec 11, 2007. Publicly Released: Dec 11, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round is the biggest, most complex, and costliest ever. DOD viewed this round as a unique opportunity to reshape its installations, realign forces to meet its needs for the next 20 years, and achieve savings. To realize savings, DOD must first invest billions of dollars in facility construction, renovation, and other up-front expenses to implement the BRAC recommendations. However, recent increases in estimated cost have become a concern to some members of Congress. Under the Comptroller General's authority to conduct evaluations on his own initiative, GAO (1) compared the BRAC Commission's cost and savings estimates to DOD's current estimates, (2) assessed potential for change in DOD's current estimates, and (3) identified broad implementation challenges. GAO compared the BRAC Commission's estimates, which were the closest estimates available associated with final BRAC recommendations, to DOD's current estimates. GAO also visited 25 installations and major commands, and interviewed DOD officials.

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## Topics

National Defense

Base closuresBase realignmentsCost analysisCost controlDefense budgetsDefense cost controlInteragency relationsMilitary basesMilitary budgetsMilitary cost controlMilitary facilitiesMilitary facility constructionMilitary personnelProgram evaluationStrategic planningCost estimatesProgram coordinationProgram implementation