Deputy defense secretary Gordon England has sent out a memo for DoD employees in organizations affected by the base realignment and closures approved in 2005—and still in planning stages—saying the Pentagon is committed to treating employees “as humanely and equitably as possible.” He also said that the department would “keep employees informed during every step in the process, provide comprehensive transition tools and programs, maximize continued employment opportunities, strive to mitigate adverse effects whenever possible, reduce the anxiety that comes with uncertainty and change, and care for our civilian employees and their families.”