Republican Legislators Call for New Hearings on Fort Monmouth Closure Plans

Send Letter to BRAC Saying Original Recommendations Based on Flawed Information

State Senator Joseph Kyrillos, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck and Assemblyman Sean Kean today sent a letter to the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) requesting that new BRAC hearings be held regarding the planned closure of the Fort Monmouth Army base since the Department of Defense (DOD) withheld key information from the BRAC Commission.

Last month, an investigation by the Asbury Park Press revealed that the projected cost of closing Fort Monmouth and moving its research functions to Aberdeen, Md., has doubled from $780 million to $1.5 billion. Add to that the $3.3 billion loss to New Jersey’s economy coupled with the estimated $16 billion it will cost Maryland for needed infrastructure improvements to accommodate the largest job influx since World War II.

In addition, the Press found that critical information relevant to the impact of the base’s closure was withheld by the DOD, therefore, the BRAC’s recommendations were based on flawed information.

“The initial reasons for closing Fort Monmouth were based on assumptions and half truths. Costs are escalating, original plans to move certain facilities are falling through and it is evident that closing the base will not save the nation money, but instead create a new financial and perhaps national security burden,” said Kyrillos, R-Middlesex and Monmouth.

“How is this a cost-cutting plan?” questioned Beck, R-Monmouth and Mercer. “The federal government has a lot of explaining to do as to how it arrived at this decision. If the BRAC Commission is going to make a major decision that has such far-reaching economic and security implications, then it should be based on the best available information.”

“Knowing what we now know, it would be remiss of the BRAC Commission to deny us a fair hearing,” said Kean, R-Monmouth. “It would be totally irresponsible to move forward with this planned closure since the recommendation was based on misleading information.”

See copy of the letter below:

The Honorable Anthony J. Principi, Chairman

2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission

2521 S. Clark St., Ste. 600

Arlington, VA  22202

Dear Chairman Principi:

In light of new information that has recently surfaced which revealed blatant flaws in the process that led to the decision by the BRAC Commission to close the Fort Monmouth Army facility, we are hereby requesting a new round of BRAC hearings.

As we are all well aware, the purpose of the BRAC-recommended closures was consolidation and the resulting cost savings to taxpayers. However, a recent investigation by the Asbury Park Press found that the projected cost of closing Fort Monmouth and moving its research functions to Aberdeen, Md., will now cost twice what was originally estimated – an increase from $780 million to $1.5 billion. Add to that the $3.3 billion loss to New Jersey’s economy coupled with the estimated $16 billion it will cost Maryland for needed infrastructure improvements to accommodate the largest job influx since World War II. We fail to see how this is a cost-savings plan.

While the increase in cost alone is staggering and flies in the face of a supposed “cost-cutting plan,” most troubling are news reports that critical information relevant to the impact of closure was withheld by the Department of Defense (DOD). Based on this new information, it is obvious that both the BRAC Commission and Congress were duped by the DOD.

While the shuttering of Fort Monmouth would certainly have adverse economic implications for the State of New Jersey and the communities surrounding the facility, one must also consider the impact this closure would have on our nation’s security.

It is estimated that the closure of the base would result in a future deficit of nearly 7,000 scientists and engineers who are critical to the development of weapons technology to fight the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as future conflicts.

There is far too much at stake to allow the original BRAC recommendations to stand since they were based on unreliable and misleading information. As a result, on behalf of our constituents and the State of New Jersey, we are requesting that new hearings be granted.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,                                                                                         

State Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, 13th Legislative District

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, 12th Legislative District

Assemblyman Sean Kean, 11th Legislative District

CcThe Honorable James H. BilbrayAdmiral Harold W. ( Hal ) Gehman, Jr., (USN, Ret)The Honorable James V. HansenGeneral James T. Hill (USA, Ret)General Lloyd W. "Fig" Newton (USAF, Ret)The Honorable Samuel K. SkinnerBrigadier General Sue E. Turner (USAF, Ret)