Warner, Kaine seek to block commissary privatization pilot

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are trying to prevent the Defense Department from privatizing commissaries at five major installations in a pilot program until it completes a cost-benefit study on commissary privatization.

Congress asked for such a study last year. The five targeted commissaries for the pilot have not been identified.

The two Virginians said it would be imprudent to start the pilot, and possibly jeopardize an important benefit to military families and retirees before the study is completed.