Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Representative Frank D. Lucas

Re: HR 9153 (119th Congress), To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to exempt certain military installations from guidance regarding the maintenance of the aggregate square footage of facilities of the Department of Defense. · Latest action (2026-06-04): Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
VFA SI Solution #74 · published 2026-06-06 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/74
Office of record (Congress.gov): 2405 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC · (202) 225-5565

Military Installation Facility Flexibility and Accountability Act of 2025

The measure, as described from the official record: To allow certain military installations to be exempt from Department of Defense guidance that limits the total square footage of facilities, in order to accommodate mission-specific needs without being constrained by aggregate caps.

The proposal

Section 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the 'Military Installation Facility Flexibility and Accountability Act of 2025'. Section 2. Exemption Authority. The Secretary of Defense may exempt a military installation from any guidance that maintains an aggregate square footage limit for Department of Defense facilities if the installation commander certifies in writing that (a) the exemption is necessary to meet a specific operational requirement, and (b) the total square footage of all Department facilities will not increase as a result of the exemption unless an equivalent reduction is made elsewhere within the Department's inventory. Section 3. Reporting. Not later than March 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report listing each exemption granted under this Act, the justification provided, and the net change in square footage attributable to the exemption. Section 4. Sunset. The authority granted by this Act shall expire five years after the date of enactment. Section 5. Funding. No additional funds are authorized to carry out this Act; all activities shall be conducted within existing appropriations.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source: Existing Department of Defense appropriations
funding amount: $0 (no new funding authorized)
sunset years: 5 years
oversight body: House and Senate Committees on Armed Services
enforcement mechanism: Annual reporting requirement; Government Accountability Office audit upon request of either committee
effective date: 90 days after enactment

Constitutional basis

Article I, Section 8, Clause 12 (power to raise and support Armies)
Article I, Section 8, Clause 13 (power to provide and maintain a Navy)
Article I, Section 8, Clause 14 (power to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces)

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Honors Democratic priorities of oversight and fiscal responsibility through mandatory annual reporting, a sunset clause, and a requirement that exemptions not increase total square footage without offsetting reductions. Honors Republican priorities of military readiness and reducing bureaucratic red tape by allowing installation commanders to seek exemptions for operational needs without requiring new legislation for each case.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/74 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology