What’s Ahead for Defense Communities in a New D.C. Landscape

December 9, 2024

ADC Executive Director Matt Borron recently moderated an ADC member webinar on the post-election challenges and opportunities facing defense communities. We asked him what the association is looking for in the year ahead.

ADC: At this early stage, what do we know about how things might be different in 2025?

Borron: We know that in a political environment with full Republican control that priorities will change at the Pentagon and on the Capitol Hill committees that oversee it. For example, it seems clear there will be a shift away from the climate resilience and diversity priorities of the past several years.

New Pentagon leaders are instead being encouraged to look toward potential budget cuts and efficiency. We may see more pressure on the services to scale back in some program areas. And they may be forced to refocus inward, perhaps disengaging from areas of global conflict and threats from near-peer adversaries.

ADC: What can defense communities expect?

Borron: There will be an initial period of uncertainty at the installation level and in defense communities. We’re not even sure right now what the budget situation will be for the fiscal year we’re currently in. Congress is likely to kick that down the road into the spring, around the same time the new budget cycle will start. So we aren’t sure what might happen with specific defense budget line items over the next 18 months.

For better or worse, communities are used to these times and are ready to address them. Many community leaders remember the uncertainty that came with sequestration from the Budget Control Act of 2011. Our communities adapted and got through that period together. A lot of defense communities have been through BRAC and remained resilient.

Speaking of BRAC, the Project 2025 blueprint that some conservatives hope the Trump administration will follow, does include BRAC-style suggestions. But that doesn’t mean Congress would go along with a formal BRAC round request, which is typically a tough vote to take while running for re-election.

ADC: What are ADC’s priorities for the year ahead?

Borron: We’ll continue helping communities advance the “One Community” concept that strengthens community-installation relationships for whatever is coming along.

On Capitol Hill and at the Pentagon, we will continue advocating for the organizations and programs that directly support defense communities. That includes pushing for a robust budget for the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, our biggest champion in the Pentagon.

And we will work to ensure the stability of the programs that are important to communities’ success. We’ll work to fund and grow the Defense Community Infrastructure Program. We want to see the continued expansion of intergovernmental support agreements. And we’ll advance the Defense Community Support Program initiative.

We’ll have more updates as new DOD leaders transition into their roles. How to adapt to these changes will be the focus of the Defense Communities National Summit March 31 to April 2, so I hope communities will join us there.

 

 

Wednesday: Webinar on PACT Act and Extended VA Healthcare Access

 

The DOD Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) and VA officials are hosting a webinar Wednesday at 4 p.m. Eastern time about veterans’ health care.

“Learn about updates associated with the PACT Act, such as VA extended healthcare access to all the applicable veterans, as well what’s next as the VA continues to review conditions to potentially be added to the presumptive list,” IGA said. “DOD and VA officials will discuss the importance of the legislation and the administration’s commitment to veterans.”

Register here.

DOD photo by Jason W. Edwards

December 9, 2024

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