§2815 Military Installation Resilience Projects

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must carry out military construction projects to make bases and related facilities more resilient. These projects follow the government’s existing military construction rules and can include minor projects not otherwise specifically authorized. Before starting a project, the Secretary must send an electronic notice to the congressional defense committees explaining how the work will improve installation resilience, strengthen mission assurance, support mission‑critical tasks, and fix known weaknesses. Work may begin only after 14 days from when Congress gets the notice, unless a shorter period applies under the funding exception below. Projects can be on military bases, on state or territorial facilities heavily used by the military, or off‑site if the work helps protect a base, such a facility, or nearby community infrastructure needed to keep or quickly restore mission functions. A military department Secretary may use operation and maintenance (O&M) funds for a project if they notify Congress with the project cost estimate, the funding source, and a certification that delaying the work would harm national security or health, safety, or the environment. If O&M money is used, work may begin only after 7 days from the electronic notice. No more than $125,000,000 in O&M funds may be obligated for these projects in any fiscal year. Within 90 days after each fiscal year, and until December 31, 2025, the Secretary of Defense must send Congress a report listing each project’s title, location, scope, original and current cost estimates, the notice rationale, and any other relevant details.