Summary

GAO reviewed the Defense Secretary's Commission on Base Realignment and Closure's methodology, findings, and recommendations for realigning or closing military installations.

GAO found that the Commission: (1) made methodology errors in ranking the bases on their relative military value, because it lacked adequate management controls for data verification; (2) overstated total savings estimates by about $170 million and omitted relevant cost estimates, primarily because it lacked sufficient evaluation time; (3) misapplied its cost base realignment actions model in calculating cost estimates; (4) omitted environmental cleanup and Medicare cost estimates from its recommendations; (5) did not include economic impact as a decision factor in its recommendations, and omitted indirect job loss and other economic cost estimates from its analysis; (6) did not specify economic evaluation criteria, and incorrectly calculated direct job loss estimates; and (7) could not use a comprehensive economic model because of time constraints.