Citing "significant evidence that we have excess [infrastructure] capacity" as the services draw down in strength, acting Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Installations and Environment John Conger told the House Appropriations Committee that more base closures are needed. Failure to do so could affect resources intended to support war fighters adversely, Conger told the panel during an April 12 hearing. "We need to be cognizant that maintaining more infrastructure than we need taxes other resources that the war fighter needs as well, from depot maintenance, to training, to bullets and bombs," he said. Previous base realignment and closure (BRAC) actions have saved the Defense Department $12 billion annually, Conger said.
