Ostrolenk speaks with Christopher Preble, Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute. Ostrolenk and Preble discuss the recent passage of the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) without provisions for BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure). Preble details the common arguments against BRAC – which likely resulted in its lack of inclusion in NDAA – and the reasons these arguments hold little weight. Even in the event of large-scale military growth, the military would still have nearly 20 percent excess capacity. Secondly, contrary to the claim that maintaining unnecessary military bases protects local communities from economic harm, the repurposing of bases often spurs greater economic activity. Preble concludes by discussing the likelihood of base realignments and closures in 2018 despite the lack of inclusion in NDAA, and the other efforts being undertaken to allow the U.S. military to more efficiently deploy resources while maintaining its war-fighting capabilities. To learn more about Preble’s work, visit Cato.org.