San Diego's Naval Training Center is due to be closed next year, and the Army's Fort Sheriden, near Chicago, officially closed three years ago. But the Pentagon continues to spend millions of dollars for new construction of these and other bases that are closed or are soon to be closed. The Pentagon explains that its hands are tied because contracts for construction of the bases were made before they were put on the closing list. A Navy spokesman commented, "[The taxpayers] are going to have to pay for it anyway, so why not complete [it]?"

†