The document discusses the challenges faced by the U.S. government in closing military bases as part of the base realignment and closure commission (BRAC) in the late 20th century. While the aim was to reduce costs, local communities reacted negatively to potential closures, complicating the process. A congressional panel was created to identify which installations to close, with restrictions preventing legislative changes to the list.

1. Problem 1: Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC)
Toward the end of the twentieth century, the U.S. government wanted to save money by closing a
small portion of its domestic military installations and bases. While many people agreed that
saving money was a desirable goal, people in areas potentially affected by a base that was closing
soon reacted negatively.
Congress finally selected a panel whose task was to develop a list of installations and bases to
close, with the legislation specifying that Congress could not alter the list.
Question: Since the goal was to save money, why was this problem so hard to solve?