|
Bases and Infrastructure
|
$151 billion over 10 years |
— |
Readdress DoD’s operation and maintenance appropriation
The operation and maintenance base budget has risen by nearly 40% since 2000 and was roughly 40% of 2017 requested base budget funding, not including Overseas Contingency funds allocated toward it. Reassessing the amount of money sent to this part of the budget to ensure it is in line with overall force size could save billions of dollars. Reforms could exclude the defense health program from any decreases in funding. Permalink
|
|
|
$2 billion annually by 2027 |
H.R.753 - Military Infrastructure Consolidation and Efficiency Act of 2017 (11 sponsors) |
Lift base realignment and closure (BRAC) ban
In recent years, the Pentagon has voiced approval for lifting the ban on Base Realignment and Closure. By closing its unused or underutilized facilities, DOD could save money and distribute resources to places that truly need them and are important to the overall national security needs. Permalink
|
|
|
> $1 million annually |
— |
Implement a plan to guide joint bases that combine support services
Leaders may be able to combine services and contract requirements, better use facilities, and shrink the amount of equipment necessary, but need a coherent plan for doing so with measurable goals of cost savings and efficiency. Permalink
|
|
|
Millions annually |
— |
Increase the use of shared satellite control networks and leading practices
When modernizing satellites, the DoD should identify successful practices from the commercial sector and ensure that they are built on a common network. The creation of a long-term plan will help facilitate this improvement in modernization. Permalink
|
|
|
Millions |
— |
Reform the DOD's excess equipment disposal process to avoid waste and paying for items already acquired
The DOD could further reassess its disposal process to determine whether additional changes are needed to ensure excess equipment is going to the most appropriate use. Reforming the disposal process would allow federal civilian agencies to utilize unused resources that are currently available, instead of purchasing new items, while a fuller accounting of excess items could avoid future waste in acquisitions. This process has been started, but not fully codified, leaving the risk of civilian federal agencies spending additional funds on procurement instead of utilizing excess Pentagon items. A recent report from the Project on Government Oversight showing that the Pentagon would be paying at least $156 million over 6 years to dispose of Humvees instead of selling or donating them. Permalink
|
|
|
Millions |
— |
Increase use of underutilized base facilities
DOD could look to identify and use underutilized space at military installations and move organizations in leased space into those facilities, with a focus on consolidating and using all available space whenever possible before buying, building, or renting new infrastructure. Permalink
|
|
|
> $1 million annually |
— |
Evaluate the sizing and resourcing of combatant command headquarters
Systematically examining the amount of resources that are needed for the combatant command headquarters and carrying out a comprehensive review of the Africa Command Headquarters specifically could potentially save millions and increase efficiency. Permalink
|
|
|
$8-$20 million |
— |
Install large diesel microgrids
Military bases require the use of a lot of electricity but depend upon outdated backup power systems that can put the mission at risk and increase costs and inefficiencies. Switching to an all-diesel microgrid could help the military improve dependability and save money. Permalink
|
|
|
|
Amendment to H.R. 4435 - NDAA from Rep. Mulvaney |
Move Non-Contingency Programs from the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) budget into the base budget
Particularly as recent budget requests attempt to move even more funding into OCO funding, an area that is not subject to budget caps and can be spent without any meaningful oversight, policymakers should seek reform. Programs that are not related to overseas contingencies should be moved into the base budget. Permalink
|
|
|
$1 billion+ |
H.R.753 - Military Infrastructure Consolidation and Efficiency Act of 2017 |
Rethink the number of domestic and foreign bases
The United States currently maintains 800 bases in over 70 countries worldwide. The cost of each base includes more than just paying for the base itself -- it also includes the cost of construction, maintenance, personnel, personnel families, housing, schools, and so on. If the Pentagon were to conduct a comprehensive inventory of worldwide installations based on its assessment of threats, it would have the potential to save billions of dollars by identifying installations that are not necessary to 21st Century national security. Permalink
|
|
|
|
— |
Enhance the oversight of contingency construction projects
Since involvement began in Iraq and Afghanistan, DOD has not separately tracked costs of contingency construction projects in those nations. DOD officials have said that they are not required to track these projects According to senior DOD officials, the department does not have to track these projects separately from other DOD projects, but the department has generated specific data on contingency construction projects in the past. GAO recommended that the department track these projects and review them to ensure funds were not improperly used, among other goals. As of 2018, DOD has taken some steps toward improving flexibility and responsiveness, but further work remains. Permalink
|
| Show All |
|
|
Readdress DOD’s operation and maintenance appropriation 
