The Defense Department formally submitted the Obama administration's plan for closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility today, a proposal that would allegedly save $335 million over the next 10 years and $1.7 billion over 20 years, according to a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook.
"The plan does include ranges of costs for closure, including low-end and high-end potential one-time costs and recurring costs," he said. "It also discusses savings that would be achieved by closure. The savings range reflects differing variables, like location selected and differing options in detention models."
Recurring costs at Guantanamo would be between $65 million and $85 million higher annually than at a U.S. detention facility, according to Cook.
"The one-time transition costs would be offset within three to five years due to the lower operating costs of a U.S. facility with fewer detainees," he said.
Cook, however, acknowledged that there "are currently statutory provisions restricting the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the United States and the use of funds to build or modify facilities for such transfers," but adds that "the administration looks forward to working with Congress to lift those restrictions."
The plan does not endorse a specific facility to house Guantanamo detainees and the administration "seeks an active dialogue with Congress on this issue to identify the most appropriate location as soon as possible," Cook said.
Many in Congress are expected to oppose the administration's proposal and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) has called any plan to re-locate Guantanamo-based detainees to the United States a "non-starter."