Future is uncertain for bases in Utah

WASHINGTON — Safe for a decade, military bases in the United States face an uncertain future — and that includes Utah bases, even if former Utah congressman Jim Hansen serves on the commission that reviews base closure recommendations.

The Pentagon plans to shut down or scale back some of the 425 facilities, the first such effort to save money in 10 years. The downsizing is part of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's long-term transformation of the Cold War-era military.

Congress authorized the fifth round of Base Realignment and Closure — commonly known as BRAC — last year. The first deadline in the yearlong process is March 15, when President Bush must name a nine-member commission that will review a list of closures that Rumsfeld will propose by May.

Congressional leaders have submitted their six recommendations. Bush will make his three choices known shortly. Among those picks, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., recommended Hansen.

But Hansen said it remains up to the president to decide who will ultimately sit on that commission.

"It doesn't really mean much," he told the Deseret Morning News from his home Sunday. "It just means that the law says — I know, I wrote it — that on the 15th of March, the president then formalizes those names."

And the former congressman said that if he is selected to serve on the commission, it means "absolutely nothing" to Utah.

"As a congressman, I took the oath of office to represent the United States, but also, it's understood that you're a tremendous scrapper for your district. I think I was a scrapper for the district," he said. But he emphasized his primary duty is to the country, and it would remain so if he were to serve on the BRAC commission.

"This thing is to do what is best for the military," he said. "I'm totally convinced there has to be base closings."

He said too much focus is placed on keeping bases open when there are redundancies and holdovers from the World War II era that need to be replaced with an emphasis on high technology.

But he did promise that his being on the commission would help Utah's Hill Air Force Base and Dugway Proving Ground get "a fair shake."

"As a base closing commissioner, there is no question they would be treated fairly," Hansen said. "I know a great deal about those bases."

Rumsfeld argues that closing or consolidating stateside facilities could save $7 billion annually and that the money would be better spent improving fighting capabilities amid threats from terrorists.

"The department continues to maintain more military bases and facilities than are needed, consuming and diverting valuable personnel and resources," Rumsfeld recently told lawmakers.