The Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1988, and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 established the basic requirements for identifying and implementing domestic military base closures and realignments. The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 stipulates how installations will be placed on the BRAC list and prescribes a process and time frame for the implementation of BRAC. The BRAC process has involved a wide variety of federal agencies, state agencies, local agencies and affected communities.

There have been four rounds of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), in 1988, 1992, 1993 and 1995. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has had real estate responsibilities for conveyance of closing Army and Air Force installations to local redevelopment authorities under BRAC. The Corps also manages environmental restoration activities at BRAC installations.