DOD, Industry Weigh Base Closure Impact

摘要

There's lots of anger and pain on and around military bases that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld proposes to close. The latest recommended shutdowns, announced May 13, could be more beneficial to developers, design firms and contractors. But turning empty bases into busy construction sites is no done deal. The Dept. of Defense plan, the first revamping of domestic posts in 10 years, includes shutting 33 of its 318 major domestic bases. Another 775 smaller bases would be closed or "realigned," which in some cases means reduced. But another 49 installations are set to expand, with thousands of potential jobs added or transferred, particularly as the military shifts global troops to new locations and assignments and seeks to boost the security of its personnel. "The department's recommendations will align U.S. base structure with the force structure that is expected to be needed over the next 20 years," Rumsfeld said.