Nearly $19 billion in federal funding has now been approved for a variety of military base construction projects across the country.
As signed into law by President Biden, the Certified Appropriations Act of 2024 includes funding that is around $2 billion more than originally requested, with Army projects getting the biggest funding increase at $1 billion.
A request for Air Force construction appropriations saw a budget increase of $808 million. Only the Navy got less than expected, with Congress approving an appropriation than is $161 million smaller than requested.
The projects to be funded by the appropriations legislation cover everything from family base housing to childcare facilities, offices, and military equipment facilities.
A report issued by the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute reviewing the appropriations legislation notes that the legislation is “extremely important” for the simple reason that such projects cannot be funded via a Congressional continuing resolution.
With budget talks at a standstill since last spring, the report continues: “Six months of construction time has already been lost, time that can never be recovered and time that will likely result in higher construction costs due to inflation and unpredictability in planning.”
Additional projects to be funded under the legislation include new facilities for training, supplies, maintenance, utilities, and research and development space.
Funding to the tune of $45 million has also been secured for a large number of base demolition projects. A House document states that “excess infrastructure can be costly to maintain and diverts resources away from current requirements.”
By Garry Boulard
