Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers (left), U.S. Air Force, and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (right) talk with reporters in the Pentagon about the process used by which the Base Realignment and Closure Commission on May 12, 2005. The commission has the mandate to reduce excess capacity in owned or leased properties in order to save money. Rumsfeld acknowledged it was a contentious undertaking with feelings running high in many communities and said the decisions were well thought out and necessary for the future well being of the U.S. military.