NDAA Passes House with Rep. Takano’s Bipartisan Provision Delaying the Consolidation of Defense Media Activity and Protecting 300 Jobs at March Air Reserve Base
Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives including Rep. Mark Takano’s (D-Calif.) provision to help prevent the Department of Defense’s (DOD) efforts to consolidate Defense Media Activity (DMA) and protecting roughly 300 jobs at March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley and hundreds of others across the country. This effort had strong bipartisan support, including support from Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.) and members of the California and Pennsylvania Congressional Delegations.
“Since I was first made aware about potential efforts to consolidate Defense Media Activity nationwide, and the threat it posed to jobs for hundreds of military, civilian, and contractor positions in my district at March Air Reserve Base, I have been working diligently with my colleagues to help protect these jobs and hundreds of others across the country,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “I am glad that we were able to include a provision in the final NDAA package to help protect these jobs and to require a thorough report from Department of Defense and Congressional review before the Department can move forward with any plans to consolidate these vital DMA functions. I’d like to thank Rep. Calvert, Rep. Cook, and my colleagues who supported this bipartisan effort to protect these jobs and to highlight the potential risk that consolidation of DMA functions would bring to our strategic military advantage.”
“I’m grateful that the Defense Media Activity (DMA) provision I requested along with Rep. Takano was included in the final version of the NDAA and will be signed into law. We owe it to those working here in Riverside County at the DMA and our taxpayers to see that any decision about its future is based on a thorough and strategic analysis. I continue to believe there are significant benefits to locating the DMA at March Air Reserve Base,” said Rep. Ken Calvert.
This provision that was successfully included in this final NDAA package highlights the need for transparency and accountability regarding DMA. The language limits and prevents the Secretary of Defense from taking any potential action to consolidate DMA until a report is submitted to Congress and 60 days have passed after said report has been submitted. This reporting requirement will give Congress over the opportunity to properly oversee any DMA restructuring or transformations.
The required report, to be completed by the Defense Secretary, must include information regarding DOD’s current or future plans to restructure, reduce, or eliminate the functions, personnel, facilities or capabilities of DMA. The report must also include any modifications that have been made or will be made in the future about efforts to consolidate DMA as well as any contractual agreements that have been agreed to or explored with the objective of consolidation. Lastly, the language calls for any DOD directives or administration guidance about consolidating DMA be included in the report.
In April, Rep. Mark Takano warned about the potential risk of consolidation of DMA functions at March Air Reserve Base that could have led to the loss of hundreds of jobs and strongly opposed these efforts. Rep. Takano led a bipartisan letter with Representative Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Senators Feinstein and Harris expressing concern and opposition to the Department of Defense’s ongoing effort to relocate DMA functions currently stationed at March Air Reserve Base, which would lead to the elimination of more than 300 military, civilian, and contractor positions.
As DOD looks to consolidate its DMA presence nationwide, the Department has failed to provide sufficient justification for its decision to reallocate DMA resources and staff such as demonstrating that such a move would not impact readiness or DMA’s ability to meet its mission requirements. Congress must have the opportunity to consider this impact before DOD is permitted to move forward.
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